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Lindsley,  Philip,  1786-1855. 
The  works  of  Philip  Lindsley 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2019  with  funding  from 
Princeton  Theological  Seminary  Library 


https://archive.org/details/worksofphiliplin03lind 


WORKS  OF 


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THE 


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WORKS 


OF 


PHILIP  LINDSLEY,  MX, 


FORMERLY  VICE-PRESIDENT  AND  PRESIDENT  ELECT  OF  THE  COLLEGE  OF 

NEW  JERSEY,  PRINCETON  ;  AND  LATE  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  NASHVILLE,  TENNESSEE, 

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EDITED  BY 

LE  ROY  J.  HALSEY,  D.D. 

PROFESSOR  IN  THE  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY  OF  THE  NORTHWEST. 


WITH  INTRODUCTORY  NOTICES  OR  HIS  LIFE  AND  LABOURS. 

BY  THE  EDITOR. 


“  He  was  a  scholar,  and  a  ripe  and  good  one.” 


VOLUME  III. 

MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

J.  B.  LIPPINTCOTT  &  CO. 

1866. 


Entered,  according  to  act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1864,  by 
J.  B.  LIPPINCOTT  &  CO., 

In  the  Clerk’s  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the  Eastern 

District  of  Pennsylvania. 


CONTENTS  OF  VOL.  Ill 


Page 

Supplementary  Biographical  Sketch  of  the  Author,  by  the  Editor.  9 

II. 

The  Primitive  State  of  Mankind :  an  Attempt  to  Prove  that  the 
Original  or  most  Ancient  Condition  of  the  Human  Family  was 


Civilized  and  not  Savage .  81 

III. 

The  Primitive  State  of  Mankind,  concluded  . . . .  112 

IV. 

The  Aborigines  of  North  America .  153 

Y. 

Religious  Prejudices . . . . .  191 


Address  on  the  Occasion  of  the  Centennial  Birthday  of  George 


Washington  .  229 

vn. 

American  Democracy: 

Part  I. — Address  to  Farmers  and  Mechanics . . .  265 

II. — The  Federal  Constitution .  317 

III.  — What  can  the  Government  do  for  the  People? .  354 

IV.  — Tariff,  Taxation,  Bounties,  Free  Trade,  Revenue,  Pro¬ 

tection  .  376 

V.- — What  can  the  People  do  for  Themselves? .  394 


(5) 


6 


CONTENTS  OF  VOL.  III. 


yin. 

Page 

Thoughts  on  Presbyterian  Church  Government;  or,  Ecclesiastical 
Polity.... .  399 

IX. 

The  Necessity  of  Circulating  the  Bible .  459 

X. 

The  Claims  of  the  Bible.  An  Address  before  the  Bible  So¬ 
ciety . 479 

XI. 

Vindication  of  the  Temperance  Cause .  505 

XII. 

Miscellaneous  Essays. 

Banks — Brokers — Usury .  545 

Maxims,  Sophisms,  Dogmas,  Fallacies,  Themes,  Nothings,  Sugges¬ 
tions .  553 

Negro  Slavery  in  America .  574 

Free  Banks — State  Stock  Banks .  584 

Riches — Poverty .  589 

The  Whistle . 602 

Genteel  Beggars .  607 

The  Seasons .  613 

Punch  and  a  Bishop .  616 

Christmas .  619 

The  American  is  a  Spitting  Animal . . .  623 

The  Weather  and  Sundries .  626 

Nashville:  hy  a  Kentuckian . 631 

A  Hint  to  the  Easterns .  636 

Printers’  Blunders .  639 

Horrid  Robbery  and  Murder .  643 

A  Prodigious  Prediction .  647 

Reminiscences  of  Rev.  Samuel  Stanhope  Smith,  D.D.,  LL.D .  652 

Thoughts  on  Slavery .  663 


A  SUPPLEMENTARY  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH 

OF  THE  AUTHOR. 


INTRODUCTION  TO  YOL.  III. 


A  SUPPLEMENTARY  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH 

OF  THE  AUTHOR. 

BY  THE  EDITOR. 

No  full  and  connected  biography  of  Dr.  Lindsley  has  been  at¬ 
tempted  in  these  volumes.  The  life  of  a  student  and  man  of  letters 
is,  for  the  most  part,  an  uneventful  one — at  least  uneventful  as  to  single 
outward  acts  of  public  and  general  interest.  In  the  present  instance 
it  has  been  thought  that  the  best  memoir,  as  well  as  the  most  lasting 
monument  of  the  author,  is  to  be  found  in  his  writings — not  in  what 
others  may  say  of  him,  now  that  he  is  gone,  but  in  what  his  own 
living  pen  had  left  on  record.  The  words  of  such  a  man  are  his 
deeds,  and  when  these  are  fully  laid  before  the  reader,  but  little 
remains  to  the  biographer.  Under  this  impression,  all  that  has  been 
aimed  at  in  these  introductory  notices  has  been  to  present  a  fair  esti¬ 
mate  of  his  labours  and  influence  in  those  fields  to  which  his  energies 
were  devoted,  and  to  furnish  only  so  much,  in  the  way  of  fact  and 
incident,  as  might  be  needful  to  a  right  appreciation  both  of  his  writ¬ 
ings  and  his  character. 

There  is  indeed  no  lack  of  materials  for  a  full  and  even  minute 
account  of  his  life  and  labours.  He  seems,  from  a  very  early  period, 
to  have  studied  with  pen  in  hand,  and  to  the  close  of  life  to  have  kept 
a  record  of  all  his  most  important  movements.  Though  there  are 
frequent  indications  in  his  private  journals  that  he  had,  from  time  to 
time,  destroyed  many  manuscripts,  still  enough  remains  to  furnish  the 
amplest  materials  for  a  full  and  circumstantial  biography,  even  aside 
from  the  accumulated  and  carefully  preserved  letters  of  his  correspond¬ 
ents,  during  a  period  of  forty-five  years.  But  as  it  has  been  our 

(9) 


10 


A  SUPPLEMENTARY 


purpose,  in  connection  with  his  Educational  Discourses,  to  give  some 
account  of  his  work  as  an  educator,  and  also  some  estimate  of  his 
character  as  a  preacher,  in  connection  with  his  Religious  Discourses,  so 
now,  answering  to  the  miscellaneous  nature  of  this  third  volume,  we 
shall  aim  simply  to  bring  forward  some  other  points  in  his  history, 
which  seem  necessary  to  complete  the  picture,  and  to  give  the  reader 
as  distinct  a  view  as  possible  of  his  whole  life,  labour,  and  influence. 
Even  here,  however,  the  story  will  be  told,  as  far  as  possible,  in  his 
own  words,  derived  from  records  which,  while  penned  with  much  care 
and  deliberation,  were  evidently  never  intended  for  the  eye  of  the 
public,  but  simply  for  the  satisfaction  and  instruction  of  his  children. 
The  life  and  character  of  every  good  man,  especially  of  every  emi¬ 
nently  useful  man,  ought  to  be  regarded,  not  as  a  private,  but  a  public 
heritage.  So  far  as  the  public  may  be  interested  in  it  and  benefited 
by  it,  it  may  be  properly  made  known,  even  where  the  individual  had 
no  such  intention  himself.  It  is  with  this  view  that  the  present  sup¬ 
plementary  memoir  of  Dr.  Lindsley  is  now  offered  to  the  readers  of 
his  works. 

I.  HIS  EARLY  STUDIES. 

It  is  always  interesting  to  trace  back  to  their  earliest  beginnings 
the  influences  which  have  resulted  in  a  life  of  eminent  usefulness.  It 
affords  a  pleasure  akin  to  that  which  a  traveller  feels  in  standing  at 
the  w7ell-spring,  high  up  in  the  mountains,  of  some  beautiful  and 
mighty  river,  whose  banks  he  had  been  long  and  slowly  ascending 
across  half  a  continent.  We  have  already  given,  in  another  place, 
a  brief  running  narrative  of  the  prominent  events  of  Dr.  Lindsley’s 
life  from  its  opening  to  its  close.  And  the  reader  of  these  volumes, 
like  the  traveller,  will  perhaps  readily  respond  to  the  feeling  just 
suggested,  on  finding  here,  under  his  own  hand,  a  record  of  the  recol¬ 
lections  and  associations  of  that  beginning.  It  is  in  the  following 
words : — 

“I  was  born  at  the  home  of  my  maternal  grandmother,  about  three 
and  a  half  miles  southwest  of  Morristown,  New  Jersey.  My  parents 
removed  to  their  new  dwelling  while  I  was  an  infant.  Of  course  all 


f 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OF  THE  AUTHOR, 


11 


my  childish  recollections  and  associations  are  of,  and  with,  the  house 
and  scenery  of  this  my  happy  home.  Oh  !  how  I  loved  my  grandfather, 
my  father,  my  two  grandmothers,  and  my  ever-blessed  mother !  The 
only  misery  that  I  ever  knew,  during  my  younger  years,  was  caused 
by  separation  from  my  loved  mother,  when  at  boarding-school.  To 
see  her — to  sit  by  her — to  listen  to  her  voice — to  share  her  smiles  and 
caresses — was  all  that  my  heart  coveted.  With  her  I  was  as  happy 

r 

as  I  could  be.  When  absent,  I  used  to  count  the  weary  days  and 
nights  to  be  endured  before  I  could  see  her.  Time  then  seemed  to 
have  no  wings.  Why  do  mothers  ever  suffer  their  fond,  delicate  little 
ones  to  go  from  home,  to  be  entrusted  to  strangers,  mercenary,  per¬ 
haps  heartless  and  repulsive  ?  After  all,  my  mother  was  incompara¬ 
bly  my  ablest  teacher.  In  consequence  of  there  being  no  good  school 
in  my  father’s  neighbourhood,  I  was  sent  away,  when  a  little  child, 
just  beginning  to  spell  the  first  lessons  in  Dilworth,  to  board  among 
strangers,  and  to  rough  it  among  rude  boys.  I  had  a  hard  time  of  it. 
It  pains  me  to  think  of  it  even  now. 

“After  three  months’  absence,  I  returned  to  my  happy  home.  I 
was  again  sent  to  a  boarding-school  for  a  few  months — though  I  used 
to  come  home  on  Saturdays,  and  remain  until  Monday  morning. 
This  was  not  so  severe  a  trial  as  the  first.  With  the  above  excep¬ 
tions,  I  lived  at  home,  and  went  to  school  at  New  Yernon,  about,  a 
mile  from  my  father’s  residence,  until  I  began,  in  my  thirteenth  year, 
to  attend  the  classical  academy  of  the  Rev.  Robert  Finley,  at  Bask- 
ingridge. 

“  The  country  about  my  father’s  residence  was  singularly  beautiful, 
variegated,  and  picturesque.  The  most  lovely  and  striking  scenery 
was  ever  in  view;  and  I  greatly  enjoyed  it.  I  have  seldom  since  been 
equally  impressed  with  the  natural  localities  of  any  portion  of  our 
country  with  which  I  am  acquainted.  I  was,  like  most  lads,  fond  of 
hunting,  fishing,  skating  and  other  rural  sports — though  these  never 
interfered  with  my  studies.  I  always  loved  books  and  intelligent 
people.  I  eagerly  read  history,  biography,  voyages,  travels — every¬ 
thing  which  I  could  get  hold  of.  I  read  the  Bible  (the  gift  of  my 
mother)  through,  long  before  I  went  to  Mr.  Finley’s  school.  I  soon 


12 


A  SUPPLEMENTARY 


learned  by  heart  the  catechism,  and  various  hymns,  etc.  These  I 
repeated  to  my  mother,  again  and  again.  She  taught  me  to  pray 
before  I  could  read.  And  I  dared  not  go  to  sleep  without  repeating 
‘Our  Father,’  and  ‘Now  I  lay  me  down  to  sleep,’  etc. 

“At  school  I  generally  got  the  premium  or  prize,  for  being  at  the 
head  of  my  class,  (a  little  book  or  penknife,)  and  the  pleasure  it 
seemed  to  afford  my  mother  was  my  chief  reward.  While  at  home, 
I  read,  among  other  books,  the  whole  of  Rollin’s  Ancient  History. 
This  I  procured,  by  riding  on  horseback  ten  miles,  of  an  uncle,  who 
loaned  me  one  volume  at  a  time,  and  who  questioned  me  about  the 
contents,  and  closely  inspected  each  returned  volume,  to  see  that  I 
had  not  injured  or  soiled  it.  Thus,  in  due  time,  I  got  through  the 
ten  volumes.  My  delight  in  reading  it  was  unbounded — and  yet,  I 
then  knew  nothing  of  geography. 

“It  was  in  the  autumn  of  1199  that  I  began  to  go  to  school  to 
Mr.  Finley.  He  commenced  teaching  soon  after  his  marriage.  I  was 
one  of  his  first  six  pupils,  and  was  present  on  the  first  day.  He  taught 
a  year  in  his  own  house.  I  boarded  with  him.  He  was  one  of  the 
best  teachers  I  have  ever  known.  His  school  obtained  great  celebrity. 
Here,  on  the  first  day  of  my  entering  the  school,  I  began  the  study  of 
Latin.  I  continued  at  Mr.  Finley’s  Academy,  as  it  was  called,  three 
years,  with  the  exception  of  three  months  (one  winter)  at  Morris¬ 
town,  under  the  tuition  of  Mr.  James  Stevenson,  also  a  distinguished 
teacher.  After  the  first  year,  Mr.  Finley  employed  an  usher,  or 
assistant,  built  a  school-house,  etc.  He  devoted  several  hours  daily 
to  the  school,  during  the  whole  period  of  its  continuance:  that  is, 
until  he  resigned  his  pastoral  charge  in  1811 — having  been  appointed 
President  of  the  University  of  Georgia.  Thither  he  went,  and  there 
he  died  October  third  of  the  same  year.  The  degree  of  D.D.  had 
been  conferred  on  him  by  the  College  of  New  Jersey  in  April  of  that 
year.  I  was  then  a  Professor  in  the  College,  and  Secretary  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees.” 

The  fullest  account  we  find  of  his  early  classical  studies  and  his  first 
attempts  at  teaching  is  in  a  letter  (copied  into  one  of  his  manuscript 
volumes)  addressed  to  Rev.  P.  E.  Stevenson,  of  Wyoming,  Pennsyl- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OF  THE  AUTHOR. 


13 


vania,  son  of  the  gentleman  mentioned  in  the  preceding  extract.  It  is 
under  date  of  New  Albany,  Indiana,  June  23d,  1853,  and  is  in  answer 
to  a  letter  from  Mr.  Stevenson,  who  had  requested  him  to  furnish  some 
reminiscences  of  his  father.  The  whole  letter  is  one  of  great  interest, 
alike  honourable  to  the  character  of  the  preceptor  and  the  heart  of 
the  pupil.  We  give  here  some  extracts  bearing  on  the  matter  of  his 

r  • 

studies,  and  incipient  labours  as  an  educator.  Speaking  of  Mr.  Fin¬ 
ley’s  Academy,  he  says : — 

“I  used  to  walk  to  school  from  home  (a  distance  of  three  miles) 
during  the  summer,  or  rather  during  all  the  year  except  the  real 
winter  season.  I  was  connected  with  said  school  three  years,  except¬ 
ing  one  winter,  that  of  1801-2,  which  I  passed  at  your  father’s  Aca¬ 
demy  in  Morristown.  While  there,  (at  your  father’s  Academy,) 
among  other  things,  I  read  several  books  of  Homer’s  Iliad.  In  the 
spring  I  returned  to  Baskingridge.  At  the  close  of  three  years,  we, 
that  is  myself  and  classmates,  (Samuel  L.  Southard,  Theodore  Fre- 
linghuysen,  and  Jacob  Kirkpatrick,  now  D.D.,)  entered  the  Junior 
Class  at  Princeton,  namely,  in  November,  1802. 

“Immediately  after  graduation  in  1804,  Mr.  Stevenson  came  to  my 
father’s  to  engage  me  to  assist  him  in  the  English  department  of  his 
school — then  kept  in  his  own  house  on  Bridge  Street.  His  Academy 
had  been  burnt  down  some  time  before.  I  was  not  eighteen  years  old 
by  some  three  months,  and  had  an  awful  dread  of  the  magisterial 
dignity  thus  pressed  upon  me.  He  offered  me  board  in  his  family, 
and  to  teach  me  French,  as  compensation.  I  was  perfectly  satisfied 
with  the  terms,  and  only  feared  lest  I  should  fail  to  meet  his  expecta¬ 
tions.  Thus  in  October  or  November,  1804,  I  began  to  work.  At 
the  close  of  the  quarter  or  session,  (about  the  middle  or  end  of  March, 
I  think,)  Mr.  Stevenson  very  kindly  expressed  his  obligations,  with  his 
regrets  that  he  could  not  do  for  me  more  than  our  contract  implied — 
and  at  the  same  time  handed  me  a  ten-dollar  bank-bill !  This  last 
was  wholly  unexpected,  and,  as  I  felt,  undeserved.  It  was  my  first 
earning :  and  did  more  (with  his  gracious  words  and  manner)  to 
encourage  me  to  go  ahead  and  to  rely  on  myself,  than  all  other  influ¬ 
ences  and  considerations  combined. 


14 


A  SUPPLEMENTARY 


“In  the  April  following  (1805)  I  began  to  serve  as  usher  or  assist¬ 
ant  in  the  school  of  Mr.  Finley,  at  a  salary  of  $300,  without  board. 
There  I  continued  two  years.  I  spent  the  summer  of  1801  at  home 
in  bad  health.  On  taking  the  degree  of  A.M.  at  the  college  com¬ 
mencement  of  September,  1801, 1  was  prevailed  on  by  President  Smith 
to  accept  the  Junior  Tutorship  in  Nassau  Hall.  Thus  my  three  most 
respected  teachers  successively  sought  me  out  in  my  humble  obscurity, 
and  almost  compelled  me  to  enter  upon  the  course  of  labour  and  study 
which  I  have  followed  to  the  present  day. 

“But  your  good  father  gave  me  the  start — put  me  in  the  right 
place,  at  the  A  B  C  of  the  art  and  mystery  which  he  so  admirably 
adorned  and  ennobled.  Had  I  begun  at  a  higher  post — writh  big 
boys  and  Latin  and  Greek,  I  should  probably  have  broken  down  or 
given  up  in  despair  and  disgust.  He  used  to  aid  me — show  me  how 
to  get  along — and  so  kindly  and  wisely !  without  seeming  to  interfere, 
or  even  to  assume  any  superiority.  In  the  long  evenings,  after  tea, 
he  generally  came  to  my  room  for  an  hour  or  two,  or  more — when  all 
sorts  of  things  were  talked  about  besides  French,  which  was  my  chief 
study.  Perrin’s  Grammar  and  Exercises  were  soon  mastered,  Tele- 
maque  read  through,  and  other  books  looked  into.  We  occasionally 
took  up  a  Greek  or  Latin  poet,  or  rather  he  did— and  then  to  hear 
him  read  !  I  could  have  listened  all  night  without  dreaming  or  weari¬ 
ness.  He  was  a  thorough  prosodist,  and  a  capital  reader  of  English, 
Greek,  Latin  and  French — especially  of  the  finest  poetic  passages. 
In  all  these  languages  he  seemed  perfectly  at  home.  His  scholarship 
was  minutely  accurate — extending  to,  and  embracing  every  grammat¬ 
ical  nicety  and  idiomatic  peculiarity.  Among  the  many  good  teachers 
with  whom  I  have  been  acquainted  during  the  last  fifty  years,  the  two 
who  constantly  loom  up  in  memory,  as  decidedly  first  and  highest  in 
my  estimation,  are  James  Stevenson  and  Robert  Finley.  They  were, 
and  are,  my  model  educators.  Their  superiors  I  have  not  known. 
Their  equals  I  could  not  name.  And  yet  they  were  most  unlike  each 
other.” 

After  drawing  a  graphic  picture  of  the  peculiar  excellencies  of  this 
good  man,  as  the  father  and  companion  of  his  pupils,  who  could  talk, 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OF  THE  AUTHOR. 


15 


laugh  and  play  with  them  “without  compromising  a  particle  of  true 
dignity,”  he  says  in  conclusion: — 

“  His  eminent  worth  as  a  teacher  has  ever  exalted  him,  in  my  view, 
as  facile  princeps  among  the  nomina  clara  of  that  meritorious  class 
of  benefactors  to  which  he  professionally  belonged.  I  regret  to  have 
written  so  largely  of  myself  and  so  little  of  your  father. 

“N.B. — This  is  altogether  a  private  communication,  and  not  for 
the  public.  With  my  best  wishes  for  the  happiness  and  prosperity  of 
all  the  living  representatives  of  our  lamented  and  revered  father,  I 
remain,  very  truly  and  respectfully,  your  Christian  brother  and  most 
obedient  servant.” 

II.  STUDIES  AND  ATTAINMENTS  AT  PRINCETON. 

The  period  of  Dr.  Lindsley’s  residence  at  Princeton,  from  his  ac¬ 
ceptance  of  a  Tutorship  in  1807  to  his  final  resignation  and  removal 
to  Nashville  in  1824,  was  one  of  vigorous  intellectual  growth.  During 
these  seventeen  years — fourteen  of  them  being  spent  in  official  connec¬ 
tion  with  the  College,  and  the  rest,  including  a  few  brief  absences  and 
excursions,  in  theological  study — his  course  was  steadily  and  rapidly 
onward  and  upward.  It  was  the  period  which  determined  and  fixed  his 
whole  subsequent  career  as  an  educator.  It  placed  him  at  the  head — 
facile  princeps — of  one  of  the  three  oldest  and  most  important  of  our 
Northern  colleges,  and  gave  him  an  extended  and  enviable  reputation, 
both  as  a  scholar  and  an  instructor.  We  have  often  heard  him  refer 
to  the  enthusiasm  and  delight  with  which  he  pursued  the  studies  and 
discharged  the  duties  of  this  period.  Especially  was  he  in  his  element 
as  Librarian  of  the  institution.  There  everything  was  systematized 
and  arranged  with  absolute  perfection.  It  was  his  home,  his  sanc¬ 
tuary,  his  society.  He  knew  every  author  familiarly,  and  every  author’s 
precise  place  on  the  shelves.  He  knew  all  the  different  editions,  and 
was  not  satisfied  with  any  but  the  best  editions,  and  in  all  old  standard 
authors,  regarded  it  as  a  great  point,  to  procure  the  “ Editiones  Prin- 
cipes .” 

But,  not  to  go  into  anything  like  a  detailed  account  of  the  various 
studies  and  attainments  of  this  period,  it  will  be  sufficient  to  give  the 


16 


A  SUPPLEMENTARY 


general  result  and  impression  of  the  whole,  as  stated  by  a  few  com¬ 
petent  judges,  who  saw  him  thus  in  his  early  prime.  In  a  brief  sketch 
of  him  in  the  fourth  volume  of  the  Annals  of  the  American  Pulpit, 
Dr.  Sprague  says:  “When  I  became  a  member  of  the  Theological 
Seminary  at  Princeton,  in  1816,  Dr.  Lindsley  was  a  Professor  in  the 
College.  As  soon  as  I  saw  him,  and  before  I  knew  who  he  was,  he 
impressed  me  as  a  man  of  mark — his  fine,  intelligent  and  commanding 
countenance,  and  symmetrical  person,  and  dignified  air,  left  me  in  no 
doubt  that  he  was  one  of  the  intellectual  nobility  of  the  place.  Though 
he  used  regularly  to  attend  the  College  Chapel,  yet,  during  my  con¬ 
nection  with  the  Seminary,  he  never  preached  there,  and  I  believe, 
rarely,  if  ever,  preached  at  all.  But  he  used  to  attend  very  often  the 
evening  exercises  of  the  Seminary,  which  consisted  in  the  discussion 
of  some  question  previously  agreed  upon ;  and  on  those  occasions  I 
think  he  rarely  failed  to  speak.  And  he  never  spoke  without  evincing 
keen  discrimination  and  great  polemic  dexterity.  Whatever  the  sub¬ 
ject  might  be  he  always  took  a  liberal  and  enlarged  view  of  it:  and 
showed  the  most  expansive  Christian  sympathies.  My  impression 
then  was,  and  still  is,  that  his  views  of  Christian  doctrine,  as  well  as 
of  church  polity,  were  of  just  about  the  same  type  with  that  of-  Dr. 
Smith,  under  whom  he  had  studied,  and  for  whose  talents  and  char¬ 
acter  he  cherished  an  almost  boundless  admiration.  My  personal 
acquaintance  with  him,  while  I  was  a  member  of  the  Seminary,  was 
very  limited ;  and  yet,  so  strongly  marked  was  his  character,  that 
there  was  perhaps  no  man  in  Princeton  of  whom  I  carried  away  a 
more  distinct  impression.” 

Rev.  Dr.  Maclean,  President  of  the  College  of  New  Jersey,  in  the 
same  work,  writing  after  a  lapse  of  thirty  years,  describes  him  at  this 
period  in  the  following  terms :  “He  was  strong,  fervid  and  bold;  and 
not  altogether  free  from  defects  common  to  men  of  ardent  mind  and 
nervous  temperament.  In  conversation  and  debate  he  was  ready 
and  fluent;  yet  he  very  seldom  ventured  to  preach  without  writing. 
I  have  no  recollection  of  his  doing  so  more  than  once  while  he  was 
connected  with  this  institution.  His  manner  in  the  pulpit  was  plain 
and  unaffected,  yet  earnest  and  impressive.  With  the  students  he  was 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OF  THE  AUTHOR, 


11 


a  favourite  preacher;  and  at  their  request  he  published  several  of  his 
sermons.  The  discourse  which  perhaps  attracted  more  attention  than 
any  other  which  he  published  during  his  residence  here,  was  his  ‘  Plea 
for  the  Theological  Seminary.’  It  seems  however  to  have  wrought 
differently  upon  different  minds :  for,  while  it  led  the  Rev.  Dr.  Cod- 
man,  of  Dorchester,  Mass.,  to  make  a  donation  of  a  thousand  dollars 
to  the  Seminary,  it  gave  great  offence  in  certain  other  quarters,  on 
account  of  its  supposed  allusions  to  some  prominent  individuals ;  and 
it  was  thought  that  this  indirectly  influenced  him  in  declining  the 
presidency  of  the  College,  which  was  subsequently  tendered  him. 

“In  his  attention  to  his  professional  duties,  Dr.  Lindsley  was  always 
prompt  and  unflinching.  Nothing  short  of  absolute  inability  to  leave 
his  house  would  induce  him  to  absent  himself  from  any  college  exer¬ 
cise  which  it  belonged  to  him  to  conduct.  As  a  college  officer,  he 
was  always  popular,  although  he  was  sometimes  severe  in  his  rebukes. 
He  was  easy  of  access,  and  ever  ready  to  encourage  and  aid  any  one 
desirous  to  advance  in  knowledge.  He  was  fond  of  conversation, 
cheerful,  and  often  playful  in  his  remarks ;  and  perhaps  occasionally 
somewhat  unguarded.  He  was  a  warm  and  true  friend,  but  mani¬ 
fested  his  friendship  by  actions  rather  than  by  professions.  On  this 
point  I  can  speak  with  entire  confidence ;  for  I  testify  of  that  of  which 
I  have  the  best  evidence  possible.  To  few  of  my  friends  do  I  owe 
more  than  to  Dr.  Lindsley.  For  a  year  after  I  was  admitted  to  the 
first  degree  in  the  Arts,  he  most  kindly  directed  my  studies;  and  to 
his  recommendation  chiefly  I  owed  my  appointment,  first  as  Tutor, 
and  then  as  Professor  in  the  College.  Others  of  his  pupils  doubtless 
can  speak  of  like  kindnesses  shown  to  them ;  but  none  can  have  more 
reason  than  I  had  to  revere  his  memory.” 

There  are  abundant  testimonials  to  show,  that  his  whole  career 
at  Princeton  was  one  of  extraordinary  success  and  brilliancy.  His 
promptness  and  energy  of  character,  his  tact  as  a  disciplinarian,  his 
accurate  and  extensive  learning,  his  classic  polish  as  a  preacher,  his 
dignified  and  scholarly  bearing,  his  enthusiastic  zeal  for  letters, — all 
these  and  other  characteristics  contributed  to  increase  his  popularity 
among  the  students,  and  thus  to  spread  his  reputation  over  the 

yol.  hi. — 2 
« 


18 


A  SUPPLEMENTARY 


country.  Had  lie  remained  at  Princeton,  he  would,  no  doubt,  have 
carried  out,  at  an  early  day,  many  schemes  of  authorship  which  he 
had  already  projected,  and  which  seem  to  have  been  defeated  by  his 
removal  to  a  part  of  the  country  where  the  popular  speech  was  then 
more  in  demand  than  the  learned  treatise.  He  had,  in  fact,  at  this 
time,  some  works  ready,  or  nearly  ready,  for  the  press,  which  were 
never  published.  This  was  probably  the  case  with  his  “  Course  of 
Lectures  on  Greek  Literature,”  delivered  during  this  period,  and,  as 
he  tells  us,  intended  for  publication.  It  was  at  all  events  so  with 
another  work.  We  find  a  Prospectus  among  his  papers,  bearing 
date  of  September,  1821,  with  the  names  of  some  sixty  subscribers,  in 
which  H.  &  E.  Fenton,  of  Trenton,  Hew  Jersey,  propose  to  publish,  in 
two  volumes  octavo,  a  “Course  of  Lectures  on  the  Arts,  Science  and 
Literature  of  the  Ancients.  By  Prof.  Lindsley,  of  the  College  of  Hew 
Jersey.”  At  the  time  these  large  and  learned  treatises  were  written 
and  ready  for  the  press  he  had  not  passed  his  thirty-fifth  year;  and  it 
is  curious,  but  needless  now,  to  conjecture,  what  a  career  of  authorship 
might  have  awaited  him,  had  his  life  been  spent  at  the  East,  instead 
of  the  West.  His  case,  however,  is  a  striking  illustration  of  the  manner 
in  which  men  of  the  very  first  talents  and  attainments,  once  fully 
engaged  in  the  more  active  and  diversified  duties  of  a  pioneer  life  in 
the  South  and  West,  are  compelled  to  relinquish  projects  of  literary 
and  scientific  labour  which  might  have  filled  the  world  with  their  fame, 
and  to  live  comparatively  unknown  and  unappreciated.  It  is  the 
necessary  lot  of  all  labourers  on  new  fields.  They  have  the  consola¬ 
tion,  however,  of  preparing  the  way  for  others  who  shall  come  after 
them,  to  reap  the  fruit,  while  they  honour  the  memory  of  such  faithful 
toil.  Still,  these  early  habits  of  study,  and  these  rich  stores  of  learn¬ 
ing,  in  Hr.  Lindsley’s  case,  were  by  no  means  lost.  They  only  pre¬ 
pared  him  the  better  for  that  great  work  to  which  his  life  was  to  be 
devoted  on  a  different  and  perhaps  more  important  field. 

It  will  not  be  out  of  place  to  introduce,  in  this  connection,  the  two 
following  communications  from  his  early  companions  in  study,  recently 
received  in  reply  to  our  inquiries  touching  his  standing  at  Princeton 
and  his  preceding  history  —  the  one  from  Dr.  Isaac  Y.  Brown,  of 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OF  THE  AUTHOR. 


19 


Trenton,  and  the  other  from  Hon.  Theodore  Frelinghuysen,  of  New 
Brunswick : — 

Trenton,  N.  J.,  September  2,  1860. 

Dear  Sir: — In  regard  to  Dr.  Lindsley’s  youth  and  early  educa¬ 
tion,  I  may  say,  that  he  and  I  were  members  of  Dr.  Finley’s  Academy 
in  Baskingridge,  New  Jersey,  at  its  origin — both  boarders  in  his  family 
for  some  time  and  room  mates.  He  was  always  quite  sensitive,  but  we 
harmonized  very  well.  I  was  fond  of  him.  He  was  studious,  orderly 
and  peaceful.  Being  rather  slender,  young  and  feeble,  he  did  not 
enter  very  warmly  into  the  athletic  exercises  and  competitions  of  the 
boys  in  general,  but  passed  the  interim  of  school  hours  in  reading 
some  amusing  book  or  in  study.  This  will  account,  in  some  measure, 
for  his  being  pre-eminent  as  a  scholar,  in  all  classes  and  in  all  studies. 
In  college  he  shone  quite  conspicuously,  particularly  in  the  A  ncient 
Classics  and  in  Belles-Lettres  studies.  Hence  he  was  a  classical 
writer  of  the  highest  order  in  our  own  native  tongue.  I  had  ample 
opportunities  to  know  that  he  could  write  Latin  with  great  facility. 
In  the  Greek  also  he  was  very  accomplished  at  that  early  period. 
When  Xenophon's  Anabasis  was  first  introduced  pretty  generally 
among  the  students  at  Princeton,  as  a  novel,  more  than  a  class-book, 
he  observed  to  me,  that  “he  had  read  it  through  for  amusement  in 
one  day.” 

Dr.  Lindsley  had  the  respect  and  confidence  of  the  Trustees  and 
literary  gentlemen  sympathizing  with  Princeton  College  very  gener¬ 
ally  ;  and  in  this  spirit,  I  think  with  unanimity,  we  offered  to  him  the 
presidency  of  that  institution.  But  some  peculiar  views  and  difficul¬ 
ties  in  his  own  mind  on  this  subject,  inclined  him  to  prefer  his  most 
important  and  valuable  adventure  to  the  West  —  a  decision  which 
resulted  in  conferring  upon  the  growing  population  of  the  great 
Western  Talley  inestimable  and  countless  literary,  moral  and  relig¬ 
ious  benefits.  During  the  last  year  of  his  life  he  and  I  had  extensive 
correspondence,  reviewing  the  scenes  and  events  of  our  early  days. 
These  letters  contain  nothing  that  would  be  valuable  to  you.  The 
correspondence  closed  with  a  promise  on  my  part  to  spend  a  week 
with  him  at  New  Albany,  just  preceding  the  Assembly’s  meeting  at 


20 


A  SUPPLEMENTARY 


Nashville.  Indisposition  prevented  my  undertaking  so  long  a  jour¬ 
ney,  and  his  death  soon  after,  interrupted  forever  our  subsequent 
intercourse  in  this  world. 

With  great  respect,  dear  sir,  yours,  etc. 

ISAAC  Y.  BROWN. 

New  Brunswick,  August  27,  1860. 

Dear  Sir  : — I  am  glad  to  learn,  from  your  favour  received  to-day, 
that  you  are  preparing  a  memorial  of  the  life  of  my  early  friend  and 
classmate,  Dr.  Philip  Lindsley,  formerly  of  this  State,  and  I  cheer¬ 
fully  comply  with  your  request,  and  send  a  few  lines  in  respect  to  my 
recollections  of  him  at  Princeton  College. 

My  acquaintance  with  Dr.  L.  commenced  at  Baskingridge,  New  Jer¬ 
sey,  as  a  classmate  with  him  at  Mr.  Finley’s  Academy,  in  1800.  From 
that  institution  we  entered  Princeton  College  in  1802,  and  graduated 
in  1804.  Our  class  with  Mr.  Finley  was  composed  of  Dr.  Lindsley, 
Dr.  Kirkpatrick,  Samuel  L.  Southard,  Mr.  Albanus  Logan,  of  German¬ 
town,  Pennsylvania,  and  myself.  Dr.  Kirkpatrick  and  myself  survive. 

Of  my  friend  Dr.  Lindsley  it  is  pleasant  to  remember  his  uniform 
diligence,  propriety  and  excellent  scholarship.  He  loved  his  books — 
often  when  we,  his  fellows,  were  pursuing  the  sports  of  the  bat  and 
ball,  he  would  be  exploring  the  roots  of  the  classics.  And  yet  he  was 
genial,  and  had  a  ready  sympathy  with  our  youthful  pleasures. 

After  our  graduation,  I  renewed  a  happy  companionship  with  him 
at  Princeton — he  as  Tutor  in  the  College  and  I  as  a  student  at  law. 

In  all  the  relations  of  life  he  was  an  exemplary  Christian  gentleman 
-—an  honour  to  his  native  State  of  New  Jersey  and  to  the  cause  of 
sound  science  and  religion.  He  left  to  his  children  the  richest  of  all 
legacies — a  good  name. 

Yery  respectfully  and  truly  yours, 

THEO.  FRELINGIIUYSEN. 

In  addition  to  these,  we  subjoin  the  following  letter  from  Dr.  Robert 
Baird,  author  of  “Religion  in  America,”  and  other  works,  addressed  to 
the  Editor,  under  date  of  Yonkers,  New  York,  October  8,  1860,  giving 
his  personal  recollections  of  the  same,  as  well  as  of  a  later  period : — 

My  Dear  Sir  : — I  entered  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Princeton 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OP  THE  AUTHOR. 


21 


in  the  autumn  of  1819,  and  went  through  the  course  of  three  years’ 
studies  in  that  highly-favoured  institution.  As  I  had  not  pursued  my 
academical  studies  at  the  College  of  New  Jersey,  I  did  not  become  ac¬ 
quainted  with  the  Rev.  Dr.  Lindsley  (or  Professor  Lindsley,  as  he  was 
then  called)  until  I  had  been  there  a  year,  if  not  longer.  Prom  the 
autumn  of  1821  to  that  of  1822 — my  third  and  last  year  in  the  Theo¬ 
logical  Seminary— I  was  a  Tutor  in  the  College,  having  succeeded  the 
late  Rev.  Dr.  John  Breckinridge  in  that  office,  and  of  course  was  thrown 
much  into  the  company  of  Dr.  Lindsley — who  was  Professor  of  Lan¬ 
guages  in  the  institution  as  well  as  Vice-President  of  it — by  reason  of 
the  official  intercourse  which  the  duties  of  the  several  members  of  the 
Faculty  required.  During  that  year,  my  acquaintance  with  that  dis¬ 
tinguished  scholar,  teacher,  writer  and  preacher,  which  had  commenced 
the  year  before,  became  quite  intimate  ;  and  during  the  following 
year  I  saw  much  of  him,  for  I  took  charge  of  an  Academy  or  Gram¬ 
mar  School  in  Princeton,  upon  leaving  the  Theological  Seminary,  and 
held  it  during  five  years  and  a  half.  Dr.  Lindsley  only  remained  one 
year  after  I  left  the  College.  During  that  year,  however,  my  inter¬ 
course  with  him  was  even  more  frequent  and  intimate  than  during  my 
tutorship.  Nine  or  ten  years  afterwards  I  spent  a  fortnight  with  him 
at  Nashville,  Tennessee.  A  year  or  two  later  still,  I  had  the  pleasure 
of  seeing  him  at  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
in  Philadelphia,  where  I  then  resided.  After  that  I  never  met  him 
again  until  I  spent  a  night  with  him  at  New  Albany,  in  the  early 
spring  of  1855,  only  a  few  months  before  he  died. 

Of  Dr.  Lindsley’s  appearance,  manner,  tones  of  voice  and  mode  of 
speaking,  I  have  a  most  vivid  recollection.  He  was  one  of  the  ripest 
scholars  in  all  that  constitutes  classic  and  general  literature,  including 
history,  I  have  ever  known.  His  style  of  writing  possessed  the  two 
great  qualities  of  clearness  and  strength,  rather  than  smoothness  and 
refinement.  It  was  a  fair  type  of  his  style  of  speaking,  which  was 
dignified,  emphatic  and  forcible.  He  preached  very  seldom  whilst  he 
was  a  Professor  in  the  College  of  New  Jersey.  I  think  I  heard  only 
three  or  four  of  these  sermons,  nearly  all  of  which,  I  believe,  were  pub¬ 
lished.  A  few  of  the  sermons  which  he  preached  during  his  stay  at 


22 


A  SUPPLEMENTARY 


Princeton,  after  I  came  to  the  place,  I  did  not  have  the  privilege  to 
hear.  So  great  was  his  reputation  for  scholarship,  for  the  originality 
of  his  conceptions,  boldness  in  the  expression  of  them,  and  a  certain 
indescribable  intonation,  look  and  manner,  that  the  College  Chapel 
was  sure  to  be  crowded  when  he  preached,  by  the  students  of  the  two 
institutions  (College  and  Theological  Seminary)  and  such  of  the  citi¬ 
zens  as  may  have  been  so  fortunate  as  to  hear  that  he  was  going  to 
occupy  the  pulpit.  He  usually  read  his  sermons,  but  not  very  closely, 
if  I  remember  rightly.  But  whether  closely  or  not,  his  manner  and 
tones  of  voice  were  so  striking  that  it  was  impossible  for  an  audience 
not  to  hear  him  with  intensest  interest. 

Hr.  Lindsley’s  influence  over  the  minds  of  the  students  was  extraor¬ 
dinary.  He  was  an  excellent  teacher ;  but  his  manner  was  so  decided 
and  dignified,  that  it  diffused  over  every  class  that  came  before  him  a 
certain  awe  that  rendered  all  trifling  to  be  impossible.  A  good  deal 
of  this  same  feeling  pervaded  the  congregation  when  he  preached.  I 
can  hardly  conceive  of  a  man  who  could  have  more  influence  over 
young  men  in  the  lecture-room,  or  over  a  congregation  composed  of 
intelligent  hearers.  He  was,  in  every  sense,  no  ordinary  man,  whether 
natural  endowments,  mental  culture  and  acquisitions,  manner  or  voice 
be  considered.  I  can  never  think  of  him  without  the  deepest  pensive¬ 
ness  ;  for  he  was  a  friend  to  whom  I  feel  that  I  owe  much,  and  whose 
influence  I  enjoyed  at  the  period  of  life  when  I  most  needed  it. 

With  great  respect,  I  am  yours,  most  truly, 

It.  BAIRD. 

III.  HIS  REMOVAL  TO  THE  WEST. 

Situated  as  Dr  Lindsley  was  at  Princeton,  with  everything  around  him 
congenial  to  his  tastes  and  studies,  having  already  an  ample  salary  and 
the  professorship  of  his  choice,  and  with  the  presidency  of  his  Alma 
Mater  urgently  pressed  upon  him,  it  seemed  surprising,  and  to  some 
unaccountable,  that  he  should  have  resigned  all  the  bright  prospects 
of  usefulness  and  honour  which  awaited  him  there,  to  go  to  what  was 
then  a  comparatively  new  country,  and  take  charge  of  an  institution,  at 
the  time  almost  unknown,  and  even  struggling  for  existence.  At  the 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OP  THE  AUTHOR. 


23 


first,  and  indeed  for  several  years,  he  utterly  declined  all  overtures  for 
a  removal.  As  early  as  1817,  he  had  twice  declined  the  presidency  of 
Transylvania  University  in  Kentucky :  subsequently  he  declined  that 
of  the  Ohio  University  at  Athens.  It  was  not  until  Cumberland  Col¬ 
lege  had  waited  on  him  a  year,  refusing  to  take  any  denial,  that  he 
consented  to  accept  that  position :  and,  as  he  states,  not  without  a 
very  great  struggle  at  last.  We  are  not  left,  however,  to  conjecture, 
as  to  the  motives  which  governed  him  in  this  important  step.  He 
has  placed  on  record  the  reasons  for  his  choice.  And  they  are  alike 
satisfactory  and  creditable  to  him  as  a  Christian  minister  and  a  lover 
of  his  country.  The  prevailing  motive  seems  to  have  been  that  he 
might  accomplish  a  greater  and  more  needful  work  than  he  could  have 
done  where  he  was.  The  following  extracts  from  his  journal  and  let¬ 
ters  will  show  at  once,  why  he  refused  the  presidency  at  Princeton,  and 
jvhy  at  last  he  was  constrained  to  take  a  presidency  in  the  Southwest. 

Speaking  of  the  offer  from  the  Ohio  University,  in  1823,  he  says: 
“It  was  then  my  fixed  purpose  never  to  accept  of  a  college  presidency 
anywhere.  I  infinitely  preferred  my  peaceful  classical  chair  at  Prince¬ 
ton.”  He  had  then  already  declined  the  first  invitation  to  Nashville, 
and  the  year  before,  1822,  on  the  resignation  of  Dr.  Ashbel  Green,  had 
absolutely  refused  to  be  elected  his  successor  in  the  presidency  of 
Nassau  Hall.  But  still,  in  April,  1823,  after  serving  one  year  as  the 
actual  president  of  the  institution,  and  after  Dr.  John  IP.  Rice,  of  Vir¬ 
ginia,  whom  he  had  nominated,  had  also  declined,  he  was  again  proposed, 
and,  without  his  knowledge,  unanimously  elected,  “notwithstanding,” 
says  he,  “my  well-known  disinclination  to  the  office.”  He  again 
declined;  whereupon  Dr.  James  Carnahan  was  chosen.  All  the  pro¬ 
ceedings  in  the  case  (of  which  he  has  preserved  a  careful  record)  show 
that  his  highest  wish  at  this  time,  was  to  remain  at  Princeton  and 
retain  his  loved  Greek  professorship.  As  to  the  presidency,  he  says, 
“I  did  not  think  myself  qualified  for  so  arduous  and  responsible  a 
trust.”  Long  afterwards,  when  the  invitations  and  overtures  men¬ 
tioned  in  a  former  notice  were  crowding  upon  him  from  all  quarters, 
he  makes  the  following  entry:  “I  here  state,  once  for  all,  that  I  never, 
directly  or  indirectly,  sought  a  college  office  or  appointment.  I  was 


24 


A  SUPPLEMENTARY 


in  no  instance,  when  elected,  consulted  beforehand.  In  all  cases,  when 
solicited  to  be  a  candidate,  I  refused,  and  was  not  chosen.  So  that 
every  actual  appointment  took  me  completely  by  surprise — as  much  so 
as  if  it  had  come  from  the  moon.” 

In  1824,  after  having  at  last  visited  Nashville  and  decided  to  accept 
the  presidency  of  Cumberland  College,  he  was  authorized  by  its  Board 
of  Trustees,  on  returning  to  the  East,  to  receive  donations  there  in 
money,  books  and  apparatus  for  the  institution.  He  issued  a  circular 
to  that  effect,  to  his  friends,  which  was  also  published  in  the  Eastern 
papers.  From  that  document,  and  from  his  correspondence  with  the 
Board  of  Trustees — all  preserved  among  his  papers — we  learn  what 
were  the  motives  which  prevailed  on  him  to  give  up  the  “peaceful 
classical  chair  at  Princeton  ”  and  cast  in  his  lot  with  the  people  of  the 
West.  In  the  former  he  says:  “Throughout  the  immense  valley  of 
the  Lower  Mississippi,  containing  at  least  a  million  of  inhabitants, 
there  exists  not  a  single  college.  Hitherto  a  few  wealthy  individuals 
have  sent  their  sons  to  Northern  and  Eastern  institutions,  while  the 
great  body  of  the  people  have  been  unable  to  afford  the  expense,  or 
indisposed  to  subject  their  children  to  the  danger  and  inconvenience  of 
so  long  a  journey  and  of  so  distant  a  residence  from  the  parental  roof. 
The  time  has  arrived  when  thev  must  have  the  means  of  education  at 
their  own  doors,  or  be  deprived  of  its  benefits  altogether.  It  is  the 
purpose  of  the  friends  of  Cumberland  College,  in  attempting  to  give  it 
a  respectable  and  efficient  organization,  to  remedy  the  existing  evils  to 
the  greatest  extent  within  their  power.” 

But  he  expresses  his  mind  more  fully  in  a  letter,  dated  Princeton, 
January  2,  1824,  (while  the  matter  of  his  acceptance  was  still  pend¬ 
ing)  and  addressed  “To  J.  Trimble,  II.  Crabb,  B.  C.  Foster,  E.  H. 
Foster,  and  A.  Balch,  Esquires,  Committee,  Nashville,  Tennessee.”  The 
letter  is  long,  and  we  have  room  for  only  a  few  extracts,  bearing  on  the 
present  point. 

“  Having  been  repeatedly  invited  to  the  most  respectable  institutions 
in  Ohio,  Kentucky  and  Tennessee,  I  begin  to  think,  contrary  to  all  my 
former  views  and  predilections,  that  Providence  has  destined  me  for 
the  West.  I  will  deal  frankly  with  you.  I  had  given  the  preference,  in 


I 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OF  THE  AUTHOR. 


25 


my  own  mind  to  Nashville  over  every  other  place  beyond  the  mount¬ 
ains  which  has  been  proposed  to  me.  There  were  several  things,  how¬ 
ever,  which  I  was  desirous  to  ascertain,  with  as  much  certainty  as 
possible,  before  I  could  feel  myself  justifiable  in  acceding  to  your  pro¬ 
posals.” 

After  mentioning  several  of  these,  such  as  the  healthfulness  of  the 
climate,  the  prospect  of  salary,  the  expenses  of  the  journey,  etc.,  he 
says:  “I  wished  to  be  assured  of  a  reasonable  prospect  of  building  up 
an  institution  worthy  of  the  name  of  a  college,  and  worthy  of  the 
country  in  which  it  is  located,  and  of  the  age  in  which  we  live.  This 
would  be  my  chief  and  prevailing  motive  and  object  in  undertaking  so 
difficult  and  arduous  an  enterprise.  As  a  means  of  pecuniary  emolu¬ 
ment  I  would  not  think  of  it  a  single  moment.  I  have  no  idea  that 
my  situation,  in  this  particular,  would  be  improved  by  this,  or  by  any 
change.  Could  I,  however,  upon  good  grounds,  indulge  the  hope  of 
becoming  the  happy  instrument  of  reviving  and  establishing  your  col¬ 
lege,  upon  a  broad  and  permanent  basis,  without  any  serious  injury  to 
my  family,  I  should  be  ready  to  embark  heart  and  hand  in  the  under¬ 
taking.” 

He  then  gives  his  views  at  length  upon  the  whole  subject  of  pro¬ 
fessorships,  course  of  studies,  etc.,  and  concludes  as  follows:  “Should 
I  be  induced  by  your  repeated  and  earnest  solicitations  to  leave  the 
land  of  my  fathers,  and  of  all  those  early  and  long-cherished  associa¬ 
tions,  which  mainly  contribute  to  happiness  in  this  life,  I  shall  need 
much  of  your  generous  sympathy  and  indulgence.  I  shall  calculate 
on  meeting  you  as  friends  and  brothers;  on  receiving  from  you  every 
kindly  aid  and  support,  which  my  peculiar  situation  may  recpiire ;  and 
on  your  cordially  co-operating,  with  one  mind  and  with  steady  purpose, 
to  promote  the  best  interests  of  a  great  public  institution — destined, 
we  will  hope,  to  become,  under  the  smiles  of  a  gracious  Providence, 
the  richest  blessing  of  which  a  free  and  Christian  country  can  boast.  I 
pray  God  to  direct  you  and  me  in  the  right  way,  and  to  bring  this  mat¬ 
ter  to  such  a  result  as  will  insure  his  lasting  favour  and  benediction.” 

It  has  already  been  stated,  that,  in  addition  to  his  other  duties,  he 
had  acted  as  President  at  Princeton  for  one  year  after  Hr.  Green’s 


26 


A  SUPPLEMENTARY 


resignation,  that  is,  from  September,  1822,  to  August,  1823.  The 
Board  of  Trustees,  at  their  meeting  August  fifth,  passed  the  following 
resolution,  namely: — 

“That  the  thanks  of  this  Board  be  given  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Lindsley 
for  the  faithful  and  able  manner  in  which  he  has  discharged  the  duties  of 
President  of  the  College,  since  the  resignation  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Green, 
in  September  last;  and  that  Dr.  Miller  and  Mr.  Woodhull  be  a  com¬ 
mittee  to  communicate  to  Dr.  Lindsley  the  high  sense  which  the 
Board  entertain  of  the  value  of  those  services  so  honourable  to  him¬ 
self  and  so  useful  to  the  College. 

{Signed)  “GEORGE  S.  WOODHULL,  Clerk ” 

And  the  following  is  a  copy  of  his  final  letter  of  resignation  of  the 
offices  of  Professor,  Vice-President,  etc. 

To  the  Honourable  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  College  of  New 

Jersey. 

Gentlemen: — Constrained  by  circumstances  which  could  neither 
be  foreseen  nor  controlled,  to  accept  the  Presidency  of  Cumberland 
College  in  Tennessee,  I  beg  leave  to  resign  the  office  of  Professor,  etc., 
in  the  College  of  New  Jersey.  Having  been  connected  with  this  insti¬ 
tution  since  the  period  of  early  youth,  it  cannot  be  supposed  that  I 
leave  it  with  indifference.  I  regret  that  it  has  not  been  in  my  power  to 
render  it  any  service  at  all  adequate  to  the  benefits  received  and  the 
privileges  enjoyed.  With  my  best  wishes  for  its  continued  prosperity, 
and  for  the  happiness  of  all  concerned  in  its  government  and  instruc¬ 
tion,  and  with  sentiments  of  gratitude  which  time  and  distance  can 
only  increase,  I  bid  the  honoured  guardians  of  Nassau  Hall  an  affec¬ 
tionate,  a  respectful,  and  a  final  farewell. 

I  am,  gentlemen,  very  respectfully,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

PHILIP  LINDSLEY. 

Princeton,  September  28,  1824. 

Accordingly  on  the  fifteenth  of  October  following  he  set  out  for  Nash¬ 
ville,  with  his  family — Mrs.  Lindsley  and  four  children — and  arrived 
there  on  the  twenty- fourth  of  December.  The  College  had  been  opened 
with  thirty  students  about  the  middle  of  November,  under  Prof.  George 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OF  THE  AUTHOR. 


2T 


W.  McGehee  and  Tutor  (afterwards  Professor)  Nathaniel  Cross,  whom 
he  had  engaged,  and  who  had  preceded  him  to  the  place. 

On  the  12th  of  January,  1825,  the  ceremonies  of  his  Inauguration 
took  place  with  considerable  pomp  and  parade.  Before  leaving 
Princeton,  he  had,  in  order  to  be  prepared  for  any  emergency,  written 
two  Inaugural  addresses — one  in  English,  and  one  in  Latin  according 
to  the  usage  of  the  old  colleges.  The  Trustees  preferred  English  to 
Latin.  So  he  delivered  the  English  address  to  a  crowded  audience  at 
the  Presbyterian  Church.  It  was  immediately  printed  in  the  news¬ 
papers,  and  two  thousand  copies  in  pamphlet  form.  “This,”  says  he, 
“was  probably  the  first  English  Inaugural  on  similar  occasions. 
There  have  been  none  in  Latin  since.  The  views  expressed,  though 
trite  and  commonplace  now,  were  sufficiently  novel  then,  to  command 
a  good  deal  of  attention.”* 

IV.  HISTORICAL  AND  ARCHAEOLOGICAL  STUDIES. 

Dr.  Lindsley  seems  to  have  had  his  attention  specially  turned  at  a  very 
early  period  to  the  investigation  of  the  science,  literature  and  civiliza¬ 
tion  of  the  ancients.  There  was  probably  no  department  of  learning 
in  which  he  was  more  fully  read,  and  to  which  he  had  devoted  more 
close  and  careful  study.  It  may  be  questioned  whether  any  scholar  in 
our  country  has  ever  had  a  more  extensive  and  minute  acquaintance 
with  the  whole  literature  of  the  subject,  or  gone  into  it  with  a  more 
hearty  and  enthusiastic  devotion.  It  continued  to  be,  through  the 


*  It  was  always  his  custom,  while  President  at  Nashville,  to  confer  degrees  in 
Latin,  addressing  briefly  the  Board  of  Trustees,  the  Faculty,  and  the  graduates 
in  that  language,  and  wearing  the  robes  of  office.  We  find  among  his  papers  a 
Latin  Baccalaureate,  entitled,  “Oratio  de  Eloquentia,”  which  was  pronounced 
at  the  beginning  of  the  exercises  of  the  seventh  annual  commencement  of  the 
University,  October  3,  1832.  Though  few  of  the  audience  could  follow  him  on 
these  occasions,  still  they  listened  with  great  interest,  attracted  by  his  graceful 
manner  and  the  exceeding  distinctness  and  precision  with  which  he  spoke  the 
language.  The  people  felt  that  they  could  almost  understand  it:  or  at  any  rate, 
that  it  was  not  lost  on  their  boys.  While  at  Princeton,  he  still  adhered  to  the 
old  custom  of  teaching  the  Greek  (at  least  to  the  lower  classes)  in  the  use  of  the 
Latin-Greek  Grammar. 


28 


A  SUPPLEMENTARY 


whole  period  of  his  professional  life,  one  of  his  richest  themes  of  in¬ 
struction  in  the  lecture-room,  as  well  as  one  of  his  most  interesting 
topics  of  conversation  in  literary  and  cultivated  circles.  And  not  un- 
frequently,  both  in  the  pulpit  and  through  the  press,  he  took  occasion 
to  bring  out,  in  popular  form,  the  rich  treasures  of  learning  which  he 
had  gathered  in  this  wide  domain.  He  states  in  a  note  to  one  of  his 
early  manuscript  volumes  on  this  subject,  that  the  material  thus  col¬ 
lected  had  served  as  the  text  for  much  extemporaneous  commentary 
and  illustration.  We  find  among  his  papers  a  course  of  lectures  care¬ 
fully  written  out,  in  six  manuscript  volumes,  and  bearing  the  following 
title — “Archaeology — Hints  and  Materials  fora  Course  of  Lectures  on 
the  Arts,  Science  and  Literature  of  Antiquity.  Delivered  to  a  Vol¬ 
unteer  Class  in  the  College  of  New  Jersey,  during  the  Winter  Session 
of  1820  and  1821.” 

In  these  volumes  he  discusses,  among  other  kindred  topics,  the  origin 
and  affinities  of  language,  the  population  of  the  ancient  world,  the 
peopling  of  America,  the  creation  of  the  earth,  the  deluge,  the  primi¬ 
tive  state  of  mankind,  origin  of  the  arts,  unity  and  diversity  of  human 
species,  early  history  of  mankind,  progress  of  civilization,  science  of 
the  Egyptians  and  Chaldeans,  geography  of  the  ancients,  navigation 
and  commerce  of  the  ancient  world,  painting,  sculpture,  and  archi¬ 
tecture  of  the  Egyptians,  medical  art  in  Egypt,  chemistry,  metallurgy, 
characteristic  differences  of  Greek  and  Latin  poetry,  originality  of  the 
classic  writers,  originality  of  Homer.  But  no  one  could  derive  from 
this  mere  outline  of  topics  anything  like  an  adequate  conception  of 
the  amount  of  reading  and  research  everywhere  indicated  in  the  vol¬ 
umes  themselves.  On  a  blank  page  at  the  beginning  stand  the  follow¬ 
ing  words:  “N.B. — These  volumes  do  not  contain  my  lectures  on 
Greek  Literature,  which  were  once  designed  for  publication.  Here 
will  be  found  only  miscellaneous  hints  and  quotations  for  occasional 
extemporaneous  remarks,  illustrations,  etc.  They  may  be  of  some 
use  to  my  children  in  their  private  studies.  Not  a  sentence,  however, 
is  ever  to  be  published.” 

We  have  not  felt  at  liberty  to  violate  this  last  decided  prohibition, 
though  we  know  that  at  one  time  he  designed  the  work  for  publication. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OP  THE  AUTHOR. 


29 


Accordingly,  nothing  from  these  volumes,  which  still  remain,  rich  as 
they  are  in  learning  and  full  of  interest,  has  found  a  place  in  the  works 
now  collected  and  published.  The  Lectures  on  Greek  Literature, 
which  he  refers  to  as  being  also  designed  for  the  press,  were  never 
published.  As  he  found  it  difficult  to  satisfy  his  own  mind,  they  fell 
victims  to  one  of  those  manuscript  burnings,  of  which  mention  is  made 
from  time  to  time  in  his  journal.  He  had  studied  the  Greek  language 
with  that  minute  criticism  which  an  artist  carries  into  the  study  of  the 
finest  models  in  nature,  and  he  had  been  accustomed  to  teach  it  with 
all  the  enthusiasm  of  an  amateur.  It  is  deeply  to  be  regretted  that  he 
did  not  carry  out  his  intention  of  publishing  those  Lectures  on  Greek 
Literature.  The  injunction  against  publishing  the  Lectures  on  Archae¬ 
ology,  was  probably  owing,  partly  to  their  being  prepared  in  a  somewhat 
fragmentary  form,  and  partly  to  the  fact,  that  at  the  earnest  solicitation 
of  the  editor  of  the  American  Biblical  Repository  he  was  induced  to 
publish  the  substance  of  one  or  two  of  them  in  that  journal  in  1840 
and  1841.  On  the  fly-leaf  of  one  of  the  manuscript  volumes,  he  says  : 
“The  substance  of  the  following  lecture,  corrected  and  improved,  was 
published  in  the  American  Biblical  Repository  for  July,  1841.”  The 
reader  will  find  that  article,  and  also  two  others  from  the  same  journal, 
republished  in  this  third  volume  of  his  works :  and  from  them  may 
form  an  idea  of  the  ability  and  learning  of  the  whole  series.  The  arti¬ 
cles  excited  no  little  attention  at  the  time,  both  in  our  own  country 
and  in  England,  and  were  regarded  as  establishing  clearly  his  main 
positions,  that  the  original  and  most  ancient  condition  of  the  human 
family  was  civilized  and  not  savage  ;  and  that  in  every  age  of  the 
world  civilized  man  has  somewhere  been  found. 

Since  the  time  of  Dr.  Lindsley’s  preparation  of  these  lectures  in  the 
winter  of  1820,  and  even  since  the  publication  of  a  few  of  them  in  the 
Biblical  Repository  for  1841,  there  has  been  vast  progress  made  in 
this  whole  field  of  investigation.  The  position  so  boldly  taken  by 
him  from  the  beginning,  and  ever  afterwards  defended  with  so  much 
ability  and  eloquence,  namely,  that  the  great  Oriental  nations,  which 
figure  in  the  early  Bible  history,  had  reached  a  degree  of  civilization 
and  of  advancement  in  art,  science  and  literature,  which  the  modern 


30 


A  SUPPLEMENTARY 


world  has  never  given  them  credit  for — has  been  but  the  more  and 
more  confirmed  by  all  the  recent  researches  in  Egypt,  the  explorations 
in  Arabia  and  Palestine,  and  the  wonderful  discoveries  at  Nineveh 
and  Babylon.  He  seems  to  have  been  led,  as  a  necessary  deduction 
from  his  classical  and  archieological  studies,  to  precisely  those  conclu¬ 
sions  which  have  since  been  put  beyond  all  controversy,  by  the  actual 
observations  and  discoveries  of  travellers  on  the  ground.  But  Layard 
and  Rawlinson  in  Babylonia,  Champollion,  Rosellini,  Wilkinson  and 
Lepsius  in  Egypt,  after  inspecting  for  themselves  all  these  wonderful 
monuments  of  ancient  greatness,  could  not  have  had  a  deeper  convic¬ 
tion  of  the  truth  thus  established,  nor  have  more  zealously  defended  it 
against  all  cavillers,  than  Dr.  Lindsley  did  as  far  back  as  1820,  before 
any  of  their  explorations  began.  There  was  no  one  thing  which  ever 
made  a  deeper  impression  on  the  writer’s  mind,  while  under  Dr.  Linds- 
ley’s  instruction  as  a  pupil  from  1831  to  1834,  than  the  glowing  elo¬ 
quence  with  which  he  entered  into  this  theme  in  the  lecture-room,  and 
with  which  he  seemed  to  open  for  us  a  new  world  of  power  and  beauty 
amid  the  ruins  of  the  old. 

As  to  his  general  reading,  it  was,  both  in  extent  and  variety,  far 
beyond  the  ordinary  range  of  men  engaged  in  the  duties  of  the  prac¬ 
tical  educator  or  the  minister  of  the  gospel.  In  fact  it  is  a  matter  of 
wonder  how  he  found  the  time  to  read  as  much  as  he  did.  “What 
are  you  reading  now,  Doctor?”  said  the  writer  on  one  occasion,  enter¬ 
ing  his  study  and  seeing  a  book  open  on  the  table.  “Oh,  nothing 
but  Gibbon,  for  the  fortieth  time  perhaps,”  was  the  reply.  This 
playful  exaggeration  was  simply  to  indicate  what  was  with  him  a 
common  habit — that  of  a  repeated  reading  of  the  same  author.  The 
following  paper,  copied  here  as  it  stands  in  his  journal,  and  evidently 
written  with  no  expectation  of  its  ever  seeing  the  light,  is  perhaps  the 
best  illustration  we  can  give  of  the  way  his  time  was  spent  in  the  study, 
when  he  had  reached  his  sixty- first  year.  It  is  curious  and  instructive, 
not  only  as  showing  an  ardent  thirst  for  knowledge  unabated  by  the 
lapse  of  years,  but  an  amount  and  range  of  reading  which  few  men 
are  able  to  compass  at  any  age : — 

“ December  28,  1841. — I  have,  this  evening,  completed  the  reading 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OF  THE  AUTHOR. 


31 


of  The  History  of  the  Rebellion  and  Civil  "Wars  in  England,  by 
Edward  (Hyde)  Earl  of  Clarendon.  Oxford,  1839.  Best  edition. 
(I  had  previously  read  Oliver  Cromwell’s  Letters  and  Speeches,  with 
Elucidations  by  Thomas  Carlyle;  also,  The  Protector:  A  "Vindica¬ 
tion,  by  J.  H.  Merle  D’Aubigne,  D.D.,  as  well  as  all  the  great  his¬ 
tories — Hume,  Henry,  Lingard,  Pictorial  England,  Universal  History, 
Russell,  Alison,  etc.  at  different  periods.)  I  had  often  ‘looked’  into 
Clarendon,  but  had  never  thoroughly  studied  him  before.  Rather 
hard  reading,  with  his  endless  periods,  each  including  a  score  or  two 
of  facts,  incidents  and  sage  reflections,  put  together  with  much  labour, 
art  and  skill,  but  with  little  or  nothing  of  the  natural,  transparent, 
graceful  simplicity  of  diction  and  style,  which  everybody  sees  through 
at  a  glance,  and  always  reads  with  ease  and  pleasure.  The  details, 
minute  and  prolix  as  they  are,  especially  his  biographical  sketches,  are 
often  amusing  and  singularly  interesting.  His  prejudices  and  fixed 
opinions  are  too  obvious  to  mislead.  The  statesman,  the  demagogue, 
the  enthusiast,  the  reformer,  the  radical,  the  whig,  the  tory,  the  Pres¬ 
byterian,  the  Churchman,  the  Independent,  the  revolutionist,  the  war¬ 
rior,  the  noble,  the  plebs,  may  all  be  instructed,  perhaps  enlightened, 
by  the  perusal  of  the  book.  It  is  a  good — probably  the  best — picture 
or  description  of  the  wickedness  of  the  age.  The  venality,  cowardice, 
treachery,  avarice,  selfishness,  hypocrisy,  ambition,  bigotry,  cunning, 
knavery,  of  all  classes,  orders,  sects  and  parties,  throughout  England, 
Scotland  and  Ireland,  could  hardly  be  surpassed,  and  are  boldly  ex¬ 
hibited.  Cromwell  and  Monk  became  the  most  conspicuous  and  were 
the  most  fortunate  amid  the  host  of  adventurers.  The  Restoration 
of  the  Second  Charles  was  more  remarkable  even,  and,  at  the  time, 
more  unlooked-for,  than  the  deposition  and  judicial  execution  of  the 
First. 

* 

“I  have  also  lately  read  again  Bishop  Burnett’s  History  of  his  own 
Times,  from  the  Restoration  of  King  Charles  II.  to  the  Conclusion 
of  the  Treaty  of  Peace  at  Utrecht  in  the  Reign  of  Queen  Anne.  The 
more  I  read  him,  the  better  I  like  him,  notwithstanding  his  faults  and 
foibles.  The  Table  Talk  of  John  Selden,  Esq.,  with  a  Biographical 
Preface  and  Rotes  by  S.  W.  Singer,  Esq.,  London,  1847,  contains 


32 


A  SUPPLEMENTARY 


some  curious  facts,  and  several  opinions  and  speculations  rather  novel 
for  the  age  in  which  he  lived. 

“ December  31. — Among  the  books  which  I  have  read  within  the 
last  few  months,  are  the  entire  works  of  Edmund  Burke,  in  nine 
volumes,  Boston,  1839.  I  had  read  much  of  Burke  before,  and  often. 
He  is  worth  a  very  careful  and  discriminating  study  by  conservative 
politicians  and  by  the  amateurs  of  classic  English.  In  elaborate 
elegance  of  style — in  learning,  wit,  (or  humour,)  sagacity,  candour, 
patriotism,  wisdom,  integrity,  devotion  to  Church  and  State  as  by  law 
established,  hatred  to  all  Gallican  revolutionary  acts  and  projects,  love 
of  justice  at  home  and  abroad,  opposition  to  tyranny  in  India  and 
America,  etc.,  he  was  primus  inter  pares — a  great ‘man  in  a  brilliant 
age — good,  wise,  eloquent,  brave. 

“By-the-way,  I  wish  I  had  kept  some  note  or  account  of  the  books 
read,  since  I  became  a  reader,  which  is  nearly  ever  since  I  can  remem¬ 
ber  anything.  I  have  read  far  too  many.  I  have  been  always  read¬ 
ing.  I  read  rapidly,  and  read  all  sorts  of  books.  I  will  try  to  set 
down  such  as  I  have  read  during  the  year  (1841)  ending  this  day. 
Besides  those  already  specified  are  the  following:  Elements  of  Inter¬ 
national  Law,  by  Henry  Wheaton,  LL.D.,  third  edition,  1846 — (I  had 
read  the  first  edition  before,  as  well  as  Kent,  and  all  the  standard 
authors;)  System  of  Logic,  by  John  Stuart  Mill;  Elements  of  Logic, 
by  Henry  P.  Tappan ;  Exposition  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States,  by  Joseph  Story,  LL.D.;  the  Elements  of  Morality,  by  Wil¬ 
liam  Whewell,  D.D. ;  German  University  Education,  by  Walter  C. 
Perry,  Phil.  Dr.;  The  Literary  Bemains  of  the  Rev.  Jonathan  Maxv, 
D.D.,  by  Romeo  Elton,  D.D.;  Essays  on  Christian  Union,  by  Thomas 
Chalmers,  D.D.,  and  seven  other  eminent  ministers;  The  Sufferings 
of  Christ,  by  a  Layman  ;  The  Statesman’s  Manual,  containing  the 
Addresses  and  Messages  of  the  Presidents,  etc.,  in  two  thick  volumes, 
8 vo.,  by  Edwin  Williams ;  Supplementary  Volume  to  the  Encyclopaedia 
Americana,  (vol.  14,)  by  Henry  Vethake,  LL.D.;  Historical  Sketch 
of  Trinity  Church,  N.Y.,  by  the  Rev.  William  Berrian,  D.D. ;  Memoirs 
of  Eminent  Christian  Females,  by  the  Rev.  James  Gardner,  A.M., 
M.D. ;  Life  of  Reginald  Heber,  D.D.,  Bishop  of  Calcutta,  by  his 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OF  THE  AUTHOR. 


33 


Widow,  two  large  volumes,  (second  reading;)  The  Works  of  Charles 
Lamb,  two  vols.,  by  Thomas  Noon  Talfonrd,  (second  reading;)  Wash¬ 
ington  and  his  Generals,  by  J.  T.  Headley,  (with  several  other  works 
of  the  same  author;)  Pictorial  Life  of  Taylor,  and  others;  Life  of 
Jeremy  Belknap,  D.D.,  by  his  Granddaughter,  1847 ;  Life  and  Cor¬ 
respondence  of  Joseph  Reed,  by  his  grandson,  William  B.  Reed,  two 
vols.,  1847  ;  History  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  State  of  Ken¬ 
tucky,  by  the  Rev.  Robert  Davidson,  D.D.,  1847  ;  Sketches  of  North 
Carolina,  Historical  and  Biographical,  by  the  Rev.  William  Henry 
Foote;  History  of  Rome,  by  Dr.  Leonhard  Schmitz,  F.R.S.E.,  Rec¬ 
tor  of  the  High  School  of  Edinburgh,  1847 ;  Documents  and  Letters 
intended  to  illustrate  the  Revolutionary  Incidents  of  Queen’s  County, 
L.  I.,  by  Henry  Onderdonk,  Jr.,  New  York,  1846;  The  Correspond¬ 
ence  and  Miscellanies  of  the  Hon.  John  Cotton  Smith,  LL.D.,  for¬ 
merly  Governor  of  Connecticut,  by  Rev.  Wm.  W.  Andrews,  1847 ; 
Amenities  of  Literature,  by  I.  D’Israeli,  two  volumes,  (second  read¬ 
ing  ;)  also,  Curiosities  of  Literature,  by  the  same,  in  five  volumes, 
(second  or  third  reading;)  Lectures  on  the  Principal  Doctrines  and 
Practices  of  the  Catholic  Church,  by  Nicholas  Wiseman,  D.D.,  etc.; 
Memoirs  of  the  most  eminent  American  Mechanics,  by  Henry  Howe, 
New  York,  1847  ;  Memoranda  of  a  Residence  at  the  Court  of  London, 
by  Richard  Rush ;  History  of  the  Rise  and  Progress  of  the  Arts  of 
Design  in  the  United  States,  by  William  Dunlap,  two  volumes;  An¬ 
nals  and  Occurrences  of  New  York  City  and  State  in  the  Olden  Time, 
by  John  F.  Watson ;  The  History  of  Long  Island,  from  its  Discovery 
and  Settlement  to  the  Present  Time,  by  Benjamin  F.  Thompson,  two 
volumes;  History  of  the  New  Netherlands,  Provinct  of  New  York 
and  State,  etc.,  by  William  Dunlap,  two  volumes  ;  The  History  of 
New  Jersey,  from  its  Discovery  by  Europeans,  etc.,  by  Thomas  F. 
Gordon;  A  Memoir  of  the  Life  of  William  Livingston,  by  Theodore 
Sedgwick,  Jr.;  Collections  of  the  New  York  Historical  Society  for 
the  year  1809,  (vol.  1  ;)  Reminiscences  of  Old  Gloucester,  etc.,  by 
Isaac  Mickle;  Historical  Notes  of  the  American  Colonies  and  Revo¬ 
lution,  from  1754  to  1775,  by  William  Griffith,  Burlington,  N.  J., 
VOL.  hi. — 3 


34 


A  SUPPLEMENTARY 


1843;  An  Authentic  Historical  Memoir  of  the  Schuylkill  Fishing 
Company,  etc. ;  A  History  of  Long  Island,  etc.,  by  Nathaniel  S. 
Prime,  1845;  Notes  on  the  Early  Settlement  of  the  Northwestern 
Territory,  by  Jacob  Burnet,  184T  ;  The  Life  of  William  Alexander, 
Earl  of  Sterling,  etc.,  by  William  A.  Duer,  LL.D.,  1847 ;  Memoirs 
of  his  Own  Time,  with  Heminiscences  of  the  Men  and  Events  of  the 
Revolution,  by  Alexander  Graydon,  1846;  Lyell’s  Travels  in  North 
America;  Collections  of  the  New  Jersey  Historical  Society,  vol.  1, 
1846;  History  of  New  Netherlands,  or  New  York  under  the  Dutch, 
by  E.  B.  O’Callaghan,  1846;  Travels  Over  the  Table  Lands  and  Cor¬ 
dilleras  of  Mexico,  during  the  years  1843  and  1844,  by  Albert  M. 
Gilliam ;  The  Student  Life  of  Germany,  by  William  Howitt ;  Lec¬ 
tures  on  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles,  by  John  Dick,  D.D.;  Lectures  on 
the  Epistle  of  Paul  the  Apostle  to  the  Romans,  by  Thomas  Chalmers, 
D.D.,  LL.D. ;  Writings  of  Hugh  Swinton  Legare,  edited  by  his  Son, 
in  2  vols.,  1846;  Transactions  of  the  American  Ethnological  Society, 
(vol.  1;)  Clinton’s  Fasti  Hellenici,  3  vols.  4to. ;  Harleian  Miscellany, 
12  vols.  8vo.;  Menzel’s  German  Literature,  4  vols.  8vo.;  Fosbroke’s 
Encyclopaedia  of  Antiquities,  2  vols.  8vo. ;  Nichol’s  Illustrations  of 
the  Literary  History  of  the  Eighteenth  Century,  6  vols.  8vo.;  Bel¬ 
knap’s  American  Biography,  2  vols.  8vo. ;  Burnett’s  History  of  the 
Reformation,  7  vols.  8vo.;  Prize  Essays  on  a  Congress  of  Nations; 
Book  of  Peace;  Hancock  on  Peace;  TJpham  on  Peace;  Dymond  on 
War,  etc.;  Public  Documents,  Executive  and  Congressional ;  Senate 
Rocuments ;  House  Journal;  etc.  etc. 

“(By-the-way,  I  have  read,  from  time  to  time,  the  numerous  volumes 
of  Public  Dociftnents,  Journals,  Diplomatic  Correspondence,  etc.,  pub¬ 
lished  by  order  of  Congress,  edited  by  Sparks,  Force,  etc.;  the  Madi¬ 
son  Papers ;  Washington’s  Life  and  Letters,  by  Sparks,  with  all  of 
Sparks’s  publications.  How  many  volumes  belong  to  this  category, 
and  how  many  to  the  present  year,  I  cannot  tell.) 

“History  of  the  Church  of  Scotland,  by  Rev.  W.  M.  Hetherington, 
A.M.;  A  Cyclopaedia  of  Biblical  Literature,  edited  by  John  Kitto, 
D.D.,  F.S.A.,  2  vols. — (in  this  work,  article  Antediluvians,  vol.  i.  pp. 
156-158,  my  Essays  in  the  American  Biblical  Repository  are  respect- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OF  THE  AUTHOR. 


35 


folly  referred  to,  and  my  theory  is  sustained ;)  reviews,  pamphlets, 
tracts,  newspapers,  periodicals  of  all  kinds;  articles  in  various  ency¬ 
clopaedias,  commentaries,  dictionaries;  passages  in  the  Greek,  Latin 
and  French  classics;  authors  consulted  for  special  purposes,  etc.,  far 
more  than  could  be  named ;  sundry  works  of  Carlyle,  Brougham, 
Merle  D’Aubigne,  Guizot,  Lyell,  Tupper,  Stephens,  Prescott;  a  tract 
entitled  True  and  Faithful  Relation  of  a  Worthy  Discourse  between 
Colonel  John  Hampden  and  Colonel  Oliver  Cromwell,  preceded  by 
an  Explanatory  Preface,  London,  1847,  being  an  exact  reprint  or 
facsimile  of  the  original  or  first  edition — (this  tract  purports  to  be 
written  by  William  Spurstowe,  Minister  of  the  Word  and  Rector  of 
the  parish  of  Great  Hampden  in  1636) — the  motto  of  Hampden  was, 
‘Vestigia  nulla  retrorsum;’  ‘The  Lord  is  our  strength,’  was  that  of 
Cromwell.  Vision;  or,  Hell,  Purgatory  and  Paradise  of  Dante  Ali¬ 
ghieri,  translated  by  Rev.  Henry  F.  Cary,  A.M.,  London,  1844; 
Sketches  of  Modern  Literature  and  Eminent  Literary  Men,  (being  a 
Gallery  of  Literary  Portraits,)  by  George  Gilfillan  ;  Ireland’s  Wel¬ 
come  to  the  Stranger,  by  A.  Nicholson,  New  York,  1847 ;  The  Com¬ 
plete  Poetical  Works  of  Robert  Burns,  with  Life,  by  James  Currie, 
M.D.,  New  York,  1846;  The  Jerusalem  Delivered  of  Torquato  Tasso, 
translated  by  J.  H.  WTffin,  New  York,  1846;  Memoirs  of  the  Queens 
of  France,  by  Mrs.  Forbes  Bush,  2  vols.,  Philadelphia,  1847;  Religio 
Medici,  by  Sir  Thomas  Browne;  Vestiges  of  the  Natural  History  of 
Creation;  Two  Volumes  of  Scottish  Biography,  by  Thomas  Murray, 
LL.D.,  (sent  me  by  John  Coltart,  Esq.;)  Brougham’s  Statesmen; 
Memoir  of  De  Witt  Clinton,  by  David  Hosack,  M.D.,  F.R.S.,  4to., 
New  York,  1829;  Diary  Illustrative  of  the  Times  of  George  the 
Fourth,  Paris,  1838,  2  vols.  12mo.;  The  Life  of  Edmund  Kean;  The 
Early  Jesuit  Missions  in  North  America,  by  Rev.  Wm.  Ingraham 
Kip;  Supernaturalism  in  New  England,  by  J.  G.  Whittier;  Sketches 
of  the  History  of  Roman  Literature,  by  Wilkins  Tannehill,  Nashville, 
1846  ;  Memoir  of  Baron  Cuvier,  by  Mrs.  R.  Lee,  New  York,  1847; 
An  Introduction  to  the  Study  of  Ancient  Geography,  by  P.  E.  Lau¬ 
rent,  Oxford,  (England,)  1830  ;  Metaphysical  W7orks  of  Immanuel 
Kant,  translated  from  the  German  by  John  Richardson,  London, 


36 


A  SUPPLEMENTARY 


1836;  Arnold’s  Life  and  Correspondence,  by  Stanley;  History  of 
the  Conquest  of  Peru,  by  W.  H.  Prescott,  1841. 

11  May  30,  1848. — Received  (as  previously  ordered)  a  copy  of  Man- 
ilius,  in  2  vols.  8vo.,  viz.:  ‘ M.  Manilii  Astronomicon  ex  editione  Bent- 
leiana  cum  notis  et  interpretatione  in  usum  Pelphini  variis  lectionibus 
notis  variorum  recensu  editionum,  et  codicum  et  indice  locupletissimo 
accurate  recensitum.  In  duobus  voluminibus.  Londini :  curante  et 
imprimente,  A.  J.  Yalpy,  A.M.,  1828.’  Also,  Jouffroy’s  Introduction 
to  Ethics,  including  a  Critical  Survey  of  Moral  Systems,  translated 
from  the  French  (of  Jouffroy)  by  Wm.  II.  Channing,  2  vols.  12mo., 
Boston,  1845.  The  famous  motto ,  or  inscription ,  prepared  for  Frank¬ 
lin,  ‘Eripuit  coelo  fulmen  sceptrumque  tyrannis,’  was  doubtless  bor¬ 
rowed  from  Manilius.  See  lib.  i.  line  104,  namely,  ‘Eripuitque  Jovi 
fulmen  viresque  tonandi.’  ” 

The  foregoing  extracts,  though  long,  and  intended  by  the  author 
only  for  the  eye  of  his  children,  we  trust  will  not  be  deemed  out  of 
place  here,  as  showing  something  of  the  inner  life  of  a  student,  with 
the  diversified  character  of  his  books,  and  the  familiar  acquaintance 
which  he  must  have  cultivated  with  them. 

V.  LECTURES  ON  POLITICAL  ECONOMY,  LAW  AND  GOVERNMENT. 

It  will  be  observed  that  a  very  large  proportion  of  the  works  men¬ 
tioned  by  Dr.  Lindsley  in  the  foregoing  record  of  his  reading  for  a 
year,  belong  to  the  wide  domain  of  Political  Science.  Holding  that 
all  knowledge  was  useful  and  important,  he  did  not  restrict  himself  to 
any  particular  branch  of  it,  but  sought  to  cultivate  an  acquaintance 
with  the  whole  circle  of  the  sciences.  Hence,  as  the  list  of  works  just 
referred  to  might  indicate,  we  find  him  as  familiar  with  all  the  stand¬ 
ard  writers  on  civil  government,  constitutional  and  international  law, 
ethics  and  political  economy,  as  he  was  with  theology,  classical  litera¬ 
ture,  archaeology  or  general  history.  In  fact,  the  strong,  practical  cast 
of  his  mind,  while  it  kept  him  from  going  very  far  into  the  region  of 
abstract  speculation  and  metaphysical  philosophy,  seems  to  have  given 
him  a  peculiar  fondness  for  the  great  matter-of-fact  questions  of  morals, 
jurisprudence,  government  and  political  economy.  On  all  these  points 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OF  THE  AUTHOR. 


3T 


he  not  only  read  much,  but  thought  much.  He  was,  in  fact,  a  statesman, 
so  far  forth  as  any  man  can  be  a  statesman  without  taking  part  in  the 
actual  administration  of  public  affairs.  And  he  was,  no  doubt,  a  hun¬ 
dredfold  better  qualified  for  such  administration  than  hundreds  in  our 
country,  who,  without  either  experience  or  knowledge,  are  intrusted 
with  it.  But,  deeply  read  in  the  whole  science  of  government,  and 
ever  watching  the  progress  of  political  affairs,  with  the  double  interest 
of  a  Christian  philosopher  and  a  true  patriot,  he  was,  on  all  questions 
involving  civil  and  religious  liberty,  public  morals,  the  administration 
of  justice,  the  relation  of  capital  and  labour,  the  wealth  of  nations, 
banking  and  finance,  a  profound,  practical  thinker.  In  respect  for  his 
high  calling  as  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  he  always  kept  aloof  from  the 
petty  partisan  politics  of  the  day,  quietly  pointing  out  the  errors  and 
the  virtues  of  both  sides,  as  occasion  offered.  But  in  his  own  proper 
sphere,  the  lecture-room,  and  occasionally  in  more  formal  discourses 
before  public  associations,  he  presented,  clearly  and  fully,  the  well- 
matured  results  of  his  reading  and  reflections  on  all  these  subjects. 
One  of  the  most  interesting  and  highly-prized  studies  of  the  University 
was  that  of  the  senior  year,  when  the  class  came  under  his  instruction 
in  the  departments  of  Political  Economy,  Moral  Philosophy  and  Con¬ 
stitutional  Law.  He  taught  both  by  lecture  and  by  text-books.  That 
is,  he  required  the  class,  in  these  several  studies,  as  they  took  them  up, 
to  read  carefully  Paley’s  Moral  Philosophy,  Say’s  Political  Economy 
and  Kent’s  Commentaries,  so  as  to  answer  any  questions  he  might  ask 
touching  the  author’s  facts,  arguments  and  opinions.  With  this  prep¬ 
aration  on  the  part  of  the  class,  as  a  basis,  his  method,  on  meeting 
them  in  the  lecture-room,  was  to  ask  a  few  questions  as  to  the  views 
of  their  author,  without,  however,  ever  opening  the  book  himself ;  and 
then,  as  the  answers  were  given,  to  expound,  illustrate,  confirm  or 
refute  the  doctrine,  as  the  case  might  be,  citing  all  the  different  con¬ 
flicting  authorities,  and  urging,  in  conclusion,  his  own  views  with  great 
earnestness  and  animation.  These  lectures  were  always  delivered  from 
the  chair.  They  were,  in  style  and  manner,  conversations.  We  never 
knew  him  to  read  a  formal,  manuscript  lecture  in  the  class-room.  He 
was  accustomed  to  read  long  and  learned  lectures  on  all  these  subjects 


38 


A  SUPPLEMENTARY 


before  Literary  Societies,  Lyceums,  Mechanics’  Associations,  etc.,  at 
Nashville;  but  he  never  taught  in  that  fashion.  Fully  furnished  him¬ 
self  at  all  points,  and  his  ever-active  mind  teeming  with  the  subject,  he 
judged  that  the  best  method  to  impart  instruction  in  these  studies, 
and  to  create  a  fondness  for  them,  was  to  meet  his  pupils  on  the 
familiar  ground  of  question  and  answer,  where  he  might  at  once  pour 
out  his  own  rich  stores,  and  set  their  minds  to  work.  Nor  did  he 
mistake  in  this.  Whatever  else  the  graduates  of  the  University  might 
or  might  not  carry  away  from  its  classic  halls,  they  were  certain  to 
carry  with  them  for  life  the  most  enlarged,  liberal  and  conservative 
views  on  all  these  great  questions  of  moral,  social  and  national  polity; 
and,  as  a  general  thing,  the  most  enthusiastic  admiration  for  the  wis¬ 
dom,  learning  and  statesmanship  of  their  preceptor.  Mauy  of  them 
have  risen  to  distinction  at  the  bar  and  on  the  bench.  Some  of  them 
have  taken  part  in  the  administration,  both  of  State  and  National 
affairs,  and  in  the  halls  of  legislation  have  won  a  place  among  the 
leading  statesmen  of  their  country.  Without  any  special  opportunity 
of  knowing  to  what  they  attribute  their  success,  we  doubt  not  that 
their  cheerful  testimony  would  be,  that  many  of  the  most  valuable 
thoughts  and  suggestions,  and  many  of  the  best  influences  which  have 
contributed  to  form  their  intellectual  character  and  to  shape  their 
public  career,  are  to  be  traced  back  to  these  masterly  lectures  on 
Moral  and  Political  Science. 

In  this  third  volume  of  his  works  will  be  found  a  few  of  his  lectures 
on  political  questions,  or  rather  miscellaneous  hints  and  materials  for 
many  lectures.  The  long  Discourse  on  American  Democracy,  here  pub¬ 
lished,  was  arranged  by  him  into  separate  parts,  for  the  convenience 
of  the  reader.  The  larger  portion  of  it,  however,  was  delivered  as  one 
continuous  discourse,  in  the  morning  and  afternoon  of  October  5,  1842, 
as  a  Baccalaureate  Address  before  the  University,  and  the  remainder 
during  the  winter  following.  The  substance  of  it  he  had  delivered 
before  the  Nashville  Mechanics’  Association,  on  the  Fourth  of  July, 
1832.  The  strikingly  original  views  set  forth  in  this  Discourse  he  was 
in  the  habit  of  advancing  on  all  proper  occasions — in  the  lecture-room, 
in  the  popular  assembly,  on  the  commencement  stage,  and  through 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OF  THE  AUTHOR. 


39 


the  newspapers.  Sometimes  lie  even  broached  them  in  the  pulpit. 
Amongst  his  ablest  and  longest  extemporaneous  discourses,  was  one 
on  Oaths  and  Elections ,  another  on  Banking  and  the  Currency ,  an¬ 
other  on  University  Education  and  the  Learning  of  the  Egyptians. 
Wli  en  invited  to  deliver  public  lectures  and  addresses,  as  he  often  was, 
before  literary  and  religious  societies,  and  even  on  Fourth  of  July 
occasions,  he  always  availed  himself  of  the  opportunity  to  instruct  the 
people,  rather  than  to  gratify  mere  curiosity.  He  was  sure  to  call 
their  attention  to  some  important  practical  question  of  moral,  social 
and  political  science.  He  never  wasted  any  ammunition  on  mere 
rhetoric  and  speculation.  He  was  a  man  of  facts  and  figures,  and 
never  spoke  except  with  the  consciousness  of  accurate  knowledge.  It 
was  always  the  heavy  ordnance  of  strong  thought,  and  the  hard  metal 
of  fact,  argument  and  common  sense  which  he  aimed  to  wield.  And 
we  never  knew  or  heard  of  an  instance,  during  the  period  of  twenty- 
five  years,  in  which  any  man  ever  succeeded  in  pointing  out  a  fallacy 
in  his  arguments,  a  mistake  as  to  his  main  facts,  or  the  slightest 
blunder  or  inaccuracy  in  his  scholarship. 

If  it  should  occur  to  any  reader  of  his  Discourse  on  American 
Democracy  that  he  has  there  exalted  the  vocation  of  the  farmer, 
mechanic  and  teacher,  above  that  of  the  learned  professions  of  law, 
medicine  and  divinity,  it  will  be  enough  to  say,  that  it  is  only  in 
appearance  so.  It  cannot  be,  that  one  whose  great  labour  of  life  was 
to  infuse  into  the  young  a  love  of  all  high  and  liberal  learning,  should 
be  wanting  in  respect  for  the  legal,  medical  and  ministerial  classes. 
It  is  true  that  he  at  times  spoke  disparagingly  of  lawyers  and  divines, 
especially  the  latter ;  but  at  such  times,  it  was  only  of  those  who  by 
ignorance  and  stupidity,  or  worse  errors,  had  disgraced  their  high  and 
sacred  offices — of  which  class  there  are  unfortunately  but  too  many 
examples  in  every  age.  His  noble  Plea  for  Princeton  Seminary  stands 
as  a  sufficient  vindication  of  his  own  high  appreciation  of  the  import¬ 
ance  and  the  sacred  character  of  the  gospel  ministry.  No  man 
could  well  have  a  higher  conception  of  its  true  representatives,  or  a 
deeper  abhorrence  of  its  mere  smatterers  and  usurpers.  The  reader 
will  also  find  a  noble  tribute  to  the  medical  fraternity  in  his  Address 


40 


A  SUPPLEMENTARY 


on  Temperance.  And  as  for  the  legal  profession,  he  repels  the  charge 
of  being  wanting  in  due  respect,  in  the  following  magnificent  passage, 
worthy  of  the  best  pages  of  Bacon  and  Milton,  taken  from  one  of  his 
Educational  Discourses : — 

“I  cherish  no  unkindly  sentiment  towards  lawyers.  So  long  as  the 
Gothic-Saxo-Norman-English  system  of  common,  statute  and  bench- 
made  law,  which  has  been  represented  as  an  interminable,  overgrown, 
incomprehensible,  labyrinthian  mystery  of  torture,  and  extortion  — 
which  Burke  deliberately  denounced,  which  Brougham  is  diligently 
labouring  to  reform,  and  which  Bentham  is  intrepidly  threatening  to 
annihilate : — or,  (to  speak  the  language  of  Blackstone  and  others,)  so 
long  as  this  intricate  and  beautiful  science,  the  very  perfection  of  writ¬ 
ten  reason,  to  the  lucid  development  of  which,  the  most  indefatigable 
and  distinguished  sages  have  nobly  consecrated  their  talents  and  their 
lives — so  long  as  this  much  lauded  and  much  vituperated  system, 
whether  it  be  law,  science,  mystery,  or  all  combined,  to  which  every 
known  epithet  of  praise  and  censure  has  been  and  continues  to  be  ap¬ 
plied,  and  of  which  it  is  impossible  for  the  uninitiated,  like  myself,  to 
form  any  conception,  except  from  its  practical  effects — so  long  as  such 
a  system,  whatever  may  be  its  qualities  or  tendencies,  shall  find  favour 
in  our  land,  lawyers  will  be  the  oracles  of  truth,  wisdom  and  justice 
to  the  people.  Lawyers  too  there  must  be,  under  any  form  of  govern¬ 
ment  or  system  of  jurisprudence.  And  a  truly  accomplished,  liberal, 
upright,  high-minded  lawyer  will  ever  prove  a  most  valuable  blessing 
and  the  brightest  ornament  to  any  community.  Of  many  such  emi¬ 
nently  gifted  and  illustrious  jurists  and  advocates  our  country  may 
proudly  boast.  It  is  for  the  people  to  decide,  whether  they  will  con¬ 
sent  to  be  the  passive  slaves  and  dupes  of  mere  pettifogging  smatter- 
ers,  by  becoming  themselves  sufficiently  intelligent,  to  detect  and  to 
discountenance  every  species  of  knavish  quackery.” 

The  range  of  topics  discussed  by  him  in  this  volume,  aside  from  his 
Educational  Discourses,  will  be  sufficient  to  show  how  far  beyond  the 
ordinary  province  of  the  theologian,  Dr.  Lindsley  had  extended  his 
reading  and  his  researches.  It  serves  to  illustrate  also,  the  great 
versatility  of  his  mental  powers.  He  acquired  knowledge  with  the 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OF  THE  AUTHOR. 


41 


utmost  facility.  Study  was  his  delight,  his  pastime,  and  with  his  re¬ 
markably  acute,  original  and  comprehensive  intellect,  there  can  be  no 
question  that  he  could  have  reached  the  highest  rank  in  either  of  the 
learned  professions,  or  on  the  broader  arena  of  politics  and  statesman¬ 
ship,  had  his  attention  been  directed  to  them  instead  of  the  ministry 
and  the  teacher’s  office.  He  might  have  graced  the  senate  chamber, 
the  bench  of  justice  or  the  chair  of  state.  It  was  certainly  best  as  it 
was.  Man  deviseth  his  way,  but  the  Lord  directeth  his  steps. 

It  is  singular  that  he  should  never  have  received  the  title  of  LL.D. 
from  any  of  our  American  colleges,  generally  so  lavish  of  their  hon¬ 
ours.  It  serves  to  show  with  what  little  discrimination  and  regard  to 
real  learning  these  titles  are  conferred,  that  one  so  pre-eminently 
entitled  to  it  by  all  his  studies  and  attainments,  should  not  have 
received  it  even  from  his  Alma  Mater.  Nassau  Hall  might  well  have 
been  proud  to  place  such  a  son  on  the  catalogue  of  her  Doctors  of 
Law.  Certainly  no  man  has  appeared  in  the  ranks  of  the  American 
clergy,  either  of  the  Presbyterian  or  any  other  church,  who  had  a 
profounder  acquaintance  with  Canon  and  Civil  Law,  except  perhaps 
those  who  were  once  lawyers.  He  held  the  whole  matter  of  degrees, 
however,  as  now  managed,  in  much  indifference,  and  rarely  conferred 
any  while  at  Nashville  except  upon  resident  and  well-known  ministers.* 


*  By-the-way,  we  find  among  liis  papers  the  following  amusing  ‘‘Advertise¬ 
ment, ”  entitled — 

“COLLEGE  DOCTORATES.” 

Whereas,  the  undersigned  has,  for  many  years  past,  been  grievously  worried 
by  applications  for  the  Doctorate,  from  various  parts  of  Europe  and  America: 
now  therefore  be  it  known  unto  all  whom  it  may  concern,  that  henceforth  no 
attention  will  be  paid  to  any  such  application  unless  accompanied  by  at  least 
one  hundred  dollars ,  as  a  small  consideration  for  the  trouble  imposed  and  for  the 
signal  favour  expected.  The  said  hundred  dollars  (or  more)  will  be  regarded 
as  a  substantial  qualification,  and  a  far  more  reliable  testimonial  than  is  usually 
furnished.  The  M.D.  will  not  be  granted,  on  like  terms,  to  any  candidate,  with¬ 
out  satisfactory  bond  and  security  that  he  will  not  engage  in  the  practice  of 
medicine  in  consequence,  or  by  virtue  of  such  degree.  Newspapers  throughout 
the  world  will,  no  doubt,  oblige  many  a  reader,  including  not  a  few  editors,  by 
publishing  the  above  liberal  notice. — 1\  L. 


42 


A  SUPPLEMENTARY 


VI.  HIS  ARTICLES  FOR  THE  PRESS. 

The  press  was  always  regarded  by  Dr.  Lindsley  as  a  very  important 
agency  to  be  used  in  carrying  forward  all  his  great  educational  schemes. 
Like  Doctor  Franklin,  he  was  in  the  habit  of  availing  himself  of  this 
method  of  enlightening  the  public  mind  in  reference  to  whatever  sub¬ 
jects  he  deemed  of  public  interest.  In  one  form  or  another,  and  at 
different  times,  a  large  proportion  of  the  matter  comprised  in  the  pres¬ 
ent  volumes  was  given  to  the  public  through  the  newspapers  of  the 
day.  He  adopted  this  course  before  he  removed  to  Nashville,  and 
followed  it  up  during  the  long  period  of  his  connection  with  the  Uni¬ 
versity.  While  at  Princeton,  he  published  in  the  Trenton  Emporium 
a  series  of  essays,  signed  “Hermit,”  touching  the  contemplated  resus¬ 
citation  of  “Queen’s  College,”  afterwards  Rutger’s  College,  at  New 
Brunswick,  in  which  he  advanced  many  of  the  striking,  and,  at  that 
time,  original  views  and  suggestions  which  form  the  basis  of  his 
Inaugural  Address  at  Nashville.  He  published  also  in  the  Nashville 
papers,  at  different  times,  two  series  of  articles, — one  on  Popular  Edu¬ 
cation  and  another  on  Common  Schools,. — both  of  which,  as  to  their 
substance  of  fact  and  illustration,  he  also  gave  to  the  public  in  the 
form  of  Baccalaureate  Addresses  and  printed  pamphlets.  So  also 
with  his  able  lecture  on  Popular  Education,  now  published  in  the  first 
volume  of  his  works.  It  was  spread  before  the  people  in  a  style 
adapted  to  his  purpose — in  the  columns  of  a  weekly  newspaper. 

He  certainly  acted  the  part  of  wisdom  and  of  patriotism  in  this. 
His  object  being  to  enlighten  the  public  mind  on  the  whole  subject  of 
education,  both  liberal  and  popular,  he  availed  himself  of  every  oppor¬ 
tunity  to  reach  the  people,  through  the  pulpit,  the  press,  the  com¬ 
mencement  stage  and  the  popular  assembly.  And  he  appeared  to 
feel  that  his  work  was  not  fully  done,  until  he  had  taken  the  elaborate 
oration  and  the  learned  lecture  and  condensed  them  into  short,  pointed 
and  readable  newspaper  articles. 

It  has  not  been  thought  advisable  to  republish  any  of  these  articles, 
as  the  reader  will  find  the  substance  of  them  in  his  Addresses  and  Dis- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OP  THE  AUTHOR. 


43 


courses.  But  a  few  articles  of  another  kind  have  been  presented  in 
this  volume.  They  were  occasional  and  fugitive  pieces,  not  intended, 
like  the  other  class,  to  discuss  grave  and  important  questions  of  public 
interest,  but  to  call  attention  to  certain  popular  errors,  prejudices, 
extravagancies  or  follies.  These  were  often  full  of  wit  and  sarcasm. 
As  a  writer  and  as  a  speaker,  he  knew  both  how  to  be  grave  and  how 
to  be  gay.  Few  men  knew  better  how  to  shoot  folly  as  it  flies.  The 
pieces  now  published,  though  the  occasions  which  called  them  forth 
have  passed  away,  can  hardly  fail  to  be  read  with  interest  and  amuse¬ 
ment.  They  reveal  a  power  of  sarcasm,  a  depth  of  wit  and  humour, 
an  idiomatic  edge  of  expression,  and  a  command  of  all  the  resources 
of  irony  and  invective,  which  his  position  and  character  led  him  for 
the  most  part  to  restrain,  but  which,  when  he  found  a  fitting  occasion 
and  a  justifying  cause,  would  sometimes  find  vent  in  a  way  not  easily 
forgotten  by  those  who  had  provoked  it;  and  which  led  some,  who 
saw  him  for  the  first  time  on  the  floor  of  debate  in  our  church  courts, 
and  only  in  this  character,  to  call  him  the  Dean  Swift  of  the  body. 
He  could,  and  he  sometimes  did,  in  public  meetings  at  Nashville,  when 
unjustly  misrepresented  or  assailed,  pour  forth  such  a  stream  of  fact, 
anecdote,  argument  and  good-natured  ridicule,  as  to  convulse  his  audi¬ 
ence  with  laughter  and  overwhelm  every  opponent.  But  it  is  easy  to 
see,  even  if  there  were  no  other  evidence,  that  the  power  which  could 
pen  these  amusing  sketches  for  a  morning  newspaper,  might  readily, 
on  occasion,  wield  an  artillery  of  speech,  before  which  it  would  be 
difficult  for  the  imprudent  and  the  vulnerable  to  stand.* 


*  As  an  illustration  of  this  style,  take  the  following  paragraphs  from  his 
article  entitled  “Horrid  Robbery  and  Murder.” 

“I  have  been  cozened,  defrauded,  bamboozled  and  swindled  out  of  more 
precious  time,  by  all  sorts  of  honest  men  and  rogues,  than  would  have  sufficed 
a  master  genius,  like  myself,  to  compose  the  Iliad  or  Paradise  Lost,  or  to  have 
liberated  the  Poles  or  conquered  China.  I  will  specify  but  one  mode,  among 
the  many,  by  which  this  irreparable  mischief  has  been  inflicted.  I  belong  to 
sundry  companies,  clubs,  corporations,  societies,  boards  and  institutions — the 
members  of  which  are  required  to  meet  for  the  gratuitous  transaction  of  busi- 


44 


A  SUPPLEMENTARY 


VII.  ECCLESIASTICAL  RELATIONS. 

The  ancestry  of  Dr.  Lindsley,  which,  according  to  the  family  tradi¬ 
tion,  may  be  traced  back  through  seven  generations  to  Colonel  Francis 
Lindsley,  who  left  England  with  his  family  about  1680-85,  on  account 
of  religious  persecution,  and  settled  in  New  Jersey,  seems  to  have 
been  remarkable  for  piety  and  for  their  adherence  to  the  Presbyterian 
faith.  The  family  became  an  extended  one,  branching  off  into  New 
England  and  Pennsylvania.  John  Lindsley,  the  son  of  Francis,  and 
sixth  ancestor  of  Dr.  Philip  Lindsley,  settled  in  Morristown,  N.  J., 
about  the  opening  of  the  eighteenth  century,  and  gave  to  the  Presby¬ 
terian  Church  of  that  place  the  burying-ground,  church  site  and  vil¬ 
lage  green.  The  family  were  all  whigs  during  the  Revolution,  and 
they  have,  through  all  generations,  as  a  general  rule,  been  decided 
Presbyterians.  Dr.  John  M.  Stevenson  states,  in  his  funeral  discourse, 


ness  at  certain  places  and  at  stated  hours.  Of  course,  I  am  always  punctually 
at  my  post — but  there  I  must  wait,  and  wait,  and  wait  in  vain,  for  a  quorum. 
Another  meeting  must  be  called  in  consequence — and,  for  the  like  failure, 
another, — and  perhaps  another.  Thus  am  I  compelled  to  go  four  times,  and 
to  waste  two  or  three  hours  each  time,  in  order  to  do  the  business  of  half  an 
hour!  And  when  a  quorum  do  get  together,  it  is  usually  at  least  an  hour  after 
the  time  appointed — and  this  again  I  must  lose.  From  this  one  cause  I  have 
lost,  on  an  average,  three  hours  a  week,  for  the  last  seven  years — which  is  156 
hours  a  year,  or  1092  hours  in  seven  years — which,  at  twelve  working  hours  a 
day,  amounts  to  91  days.  If  to  this  one  item  be  added  all  other  similar  losses 
occasioned  by  the  want  of  punctuality  in  others  in  regard  to  the  every  day 
concerns  of  life — the  sum  total  could  not  be  less  than  one  year  in  seven.  So 
much  of  my  life  has  been  nullified — destroyed — annihilated. 

“I  have  been  robbed  of  all  the  money  which  I  might  have  earned  in  that  time 
— of  all  the  knowledge  which  I  might  have  acquired — of  all  the  great  and  good 
and  wonderful  things  which  I  might  have  achieved  in  that  time.  In  a  word, 
my  life  has  been  thus  much  curtailed.  I  have  been  murdered  by  inches,  and 
am  still  being  murdered — I  am  stretched  upon  the  rack — am  burning  at  the 
stake — starving  in  a  dungeon — and  thus  have  been  for  years  and  years  and 
years — so  that  I  have  scarcely  found  leisure  for  anything  more  than  a  sorry 
newspaper  paragraph — for  which  I  always  get  more  kicks  than  coppers.” 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OF  THE  AUTHOR. 


45 


that  the  records  of  the  Morristown  church,  to  which  he  had  access, 
mention  seven  ruling  elders  of  this  branch  of  the  family,  within  a 
period  of  sixty  years,  from  1747  to  1805;  and  that  at  least  fourteen 
of  the  whole  dispersed  family  had  been  permitted  to  preach  the  glo¬ 
rious  gospel,  while  several  of  them  have  occupied  responsible  stations 
in  the  colleges  and  seminaries  of  our  land.  Very  similar  is  the  record 
of  his  maternal  ancestors,  the  Condicts,  or  Condits,  who  came  over 
from  England,  and  settled  in  New  Jersey  about  the  same  time  with 
the  Lindsleys. 

Thus  descended  from  a  staunch  Presbyterian  stock,  and  educated  in 
the  bosom  of  the  church  of  his  fathers,  Dr.  Lindsley  was  through  life 
a  steadfast  adherent  to  her  standards,  and  an  uncompromising  advo¬ 
cate  of  sound  doctrine  and  order.  His  faith  had  been  firmly  anchored 
in  childhood  to  this  rock  of  truth,  and  it  was  never  loosened  by  any 
of  the  prevailing  speculations,  hobbies,  philosophies  and  fancied  im¬ 
provements  of  the  times.  At  the  same  time,  as  we  have  had  occasion 
to  state  in  another  place,  while  standing  thus  unmoved  on  old-fashioned 
Presbyterianism,  he  ever  breathed  a  spirit  of  the  widest  liberality  and 
charity  towards  all  other  branches  of  the  Christian  Church.  No  man 
could  go  beyond  him  in  this  brotherly  kindness.  But  this,  at  times, 
led  some,  not  fully  informed  as  to  his  views,  to  misunderstand  his  true 
position.  Especially  was  this  the  case  at  the  time  of  the  great  con¬ 
flict  of  opinion  and  final  division  in  the  Presbyterian  Church,  when,  as 
the  result  showed,  though  apparently  neutral  between  the  parties  at 
the  beginning,  he  was,  and  always  had  been,  on  the  side  of  sound 
orthodoxy  and  order.  Here,  however,  he  only  stood  in  the  same 
category  with  many  of  the  ablest  and  best  men  in  the  church. 

Owing  perhaps  to  his  vocation  as  a  teacher,  and  to  his  not  holding 
the  office  of  pastoi*,  he  was  not,  at  least  while  in  Tennessee,  a  constant 
attendant  upon,  nor  a  frequent  speaker  in,  the  meetings  of  Presbytery 
and  Synod.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  he  did  not  take  a  more  active 
and  controlling  share  in  these  deliberations  of  the  lower  church  courts. 
It  is  a  door  of  influence,  which  one,  situated  as  he  was,  is  very  apt  to 
forego ;  but  still  it  is  an  opening  for  good  and  an  instrument  of  power, 
which  every  minister,  who  has  the  knowledge  and  talent  to  use  it  to 


46 


A  SUPPLEMENTARY 


advantage,  ought  never  to  neglect.  Still  he  did  attend  upon  many  of 
these  assemblies,  and  sometimes  took  an  important  part  in  their  pro¬ 
ceedings.  This  was  the  case  when  the  Synod  met  at  Huntsville,  Ala¬ 
bama,  in  1839,  when  the  New-School  party  separated  from  that  body, 
and  protested  against  its  action.  Here  he  took  a  leading  part  in  the 
deliberations,  as  a  conservative  Old- School  man.  He  was  on  the 
committee  appointed  to  answer  the  protest  of  the  seceders,  and,  as  we 
learn  from  a  copy  on  record  in  his  journal,  was  the  writer  of  the  paper. 
He  at  first  tried  to  unite  the  parties  and  prevent  any  division,  but 
failed  in  this.  He  also  attended  the  meeting  at  Florence,  Alabama, 
in  1844,  and  at  Clarksville,  Tennessee,  in  1845,  where  he  was  the  Mod¬ 
erator.  The  meetings  of  Synod  nearer  home  he  attended,  and  more 
frequently  those  of  Presbytery. 

He  was  a  member  of  four  different  General  Assemblies  of  the  Pres¬ 
byterian  Church — first,  that  of  1819,  at  Philadelphia,  as  the  alternate 
of  Dr.  Green;  then  of  1834,  over  which  he  was  Moderator;  next  of 
1846,  both  at  Philadelphia;  and  finally  of  1855,  at  Nashville,  during 
the  sessions  of  which  he  died.  It  may  be  interesting  to  state  a  few 
facts,  touching  his  position  in  the  Assembly  of  1834. 

It  was  his  first  visit  to  the  East,  after  an  absence  of  ten  years.  He 
had  given  himself  up  wholly,  during  this  time,  to  his  great  work  in 
Tennessee,  and  had  almost  lost  sight  of  ecclesiastical  affairs  at  the 
East.  In  the  mean  time  the  lines  had  become  more  and  more  dis¬ 
tinctly  drawn  between  the  Old  and  New- School  parties  in  the  church. 
It  was  in  the  Assembly  of  1834  that  the  first  great  conflict  between 
these  parties  assumed  the  form  of  an  open  and  uncompromising  issue, 
involving  the  very  essentials  of  faith  and  order,  at  least  in  the  judg¬ 
ment  of  the  Old  School.  The  New  School  had  the  majority  in  the 
Assembly,  as  was  made  manifest  by  its  sustaining  the  complaint  and 
appeal  of  the  Second  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia  against  the  Synod, 
and  by  its  action  on  the  Western  Memorial.  On  the  one  side,  there 
was  a  struggle  for  the  mastery,  in  order  to  sustain  the  new  doctrines  and 
the  men  who  endorsed  them.  On  the  other,  there  was  a  fixed  determ¬ 
ination  to  stand  by  the  old  landmarks  of  the  faith  once  delivered  to 
the  saints.  It  was  accordingly,  while  one  of  the  most  important,  one 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OF  THE  AUTHOR. 


47 


of  the  most  exciting  Assemblies  which  had  ever  met;  and  its  sessions 
were  protracted  through  almost  three  weeks. 

Such  was  the  composition  and  temper  of  the  body  over  which  Dr. 
Lindsley  was  called  to  preside,  with  scarcely  any  previous  acquaint¬ 
ance  as  to  the  actual  position  of  affairs,  arid,  as  we  have  seen,  with 
but  little  experience  in  the  tactics  of  ecclesiastical  bodies.  He  was 
elected  Moderator  unanimously,  and  by  acclamation — no  one  else  being 
nominated.  Doubtless  he  was  taken  by  surprise,  and  finding  himself 
in  so  unusual  and  difficult  a  position,  he  determined  to  make  the  best 
of  it,  by  discharging  his  duty  with  that  urbanity  and  scholarly  bearing 
which  marked  all  his  conduct,  and  that  impartial  justice  which  the 
occasion  demanded.  Under  such  circumstances  it  would  have  been 
difficult  to  give  entire  satisfaction  to  both  parties,  perhaps  to  either. 

The  following  interesting  correspondence  with  Rev.  Isaac  Y.  Brown, 
D.D.,  one  of  his  early  friends  and  a  leading  member  of  that  Assembly, 
appeared  in  the  newspapers  soon  after  Dr.  Lindsley ’s  death,  in  1855. 
It  shows  very  clearly  where  he  stood  and  how  he  felt.  The  allusion 
referred  to  in  his  letter,  which  Dr.  Brown  had  made  in  a  previous  com¬ 
munication,  was  in  these  words,  speaking  of  the  Assembly  of  1834 : 
“I  could  not  tell  from  your  action  as  Moderator,  to  which  side  you 
inclined  in  the  strife :  and  I  have  never  met  with  anv  evidence  to 

/  i/ 

guide  my  judgment  since.  But  I  never  doubted  that  your  feelings 
were  with  the  orthodox.” 

New  Albany,  May  3,  1855. 

Reverend  and  Dear  Sir: — I  duly  received  and  carefully  read 
your  very  able  “  Historical  Vindication,”  etc.,  for  which  I  beg  you  to 
accept  my  most  grateful  acknowledgments.  Such  a  work  was  greatly 
needed  by  the  present  generation,  and  probably,  by  not  a  few  like  my¬ 
self,  of  the  past.  I  anticipate,  and  wish  for  it,  the  widest  possible 
circulation,  among  our  churches  and  people. 

The  allusion  in  your  last  letter,  to  my  position  in  1834,  may  justify 
a  single  remark.  When  I  left  Princeton  in  1824,  I  soon  found  my¬ 
self  so  completely  absorbed  in  local  and  professional  matters,  as  to  lose 
sight  of  our  ecclesiastical  and  theological  controversies  in  the  East. 
On  arriving  at  Philadelphia,  as  a  commissioner  to  the  Assembly  of 


48 


A  SUPPLEMENTARY 


1834,  I  was  as  nearly  ignorant  of  the  state  of  parties,  the  bias  of 
individuals,  and  the  precise  grounds  of  dissension,  as  if  I  had  just 
dropped  from  the  moon.  Among  other  queer  things  I  soon  learned 
that  Drs.  Ely  and  Spring  had  changed  sides,  and  were  regarded  as 
champions  of  doctrines  and  measures  directly  opposed  to  their  former 
course,  etc.  etc.  I  was  not  a  little  surprised  and  mystified  by  what  I 
daily  witnessed.  As  I  had  no  kind  mentor  at  hand  to  enlighten  me,  I 
resolved  to  go  by  the  Book,  without  fear,  favour,  or  affection. 

I  have  always  been,  as  I  still  am,  a  Presbyterian,  according  to  the 
obvious  import  of  our  time-honoured  standards. 

But  as  I  hope  soon  to  see  you  and  to  have  the  pleasure  of  talking 
over  the  scenes  and  events  of  bygone  years,  I  will  not  trouble  you 
further  at  present. 

Yery  truly  and  respectfully  yours,  etc. 

P.  LINDSLEY. 

Rev.  Isaac  Y.  Brown. 

Trenton,  July  13,  1855. 

Dear  Sir: — In  looking  over  the  recent  correspondence  I  have 
had  with  the  late  Dr.  Lindsley,  I  fixed  my  eye  upon  the  pre¬ 
ceding,  probably  one  of  the  last  letters  Dr.  Lindsley  ever  wrote  to 
a  distant  friend, — particularly  as  it  explains  his  position  and  char¬ 
acter  theologically  to  the  day  of  his  sudden  and  lamented  depart¬ 
ure.  As  he  was  a  man  of  very  superior  talents  and  attainments; 
standing  in  the  highest  grade  among  the  literary,  accomplished  and 
eloquent  men  of  the  present  century,  I  feel  a  pure  gratification  in  this, 
his  dying  declaration,  which  authorizes  us  to  place  him  among  the 
truly  orthodox  members  and  devoted  friends  of  our  beloved  church. 
At  some  future  day,  it  will  certainly  be  proper  to  give  some  detailed 
account  of  the  character,  life,  and  labours  of  our  illustrious  departed 
brother. 

With  great  respect  and  esteem,  dear  sir,  as  ever,  etc. 

ISAAC  Y.  BROWN. 

Rev.  Dr.  McKinney,  Editor  of  Presbyterian  Banner . 

In  reference  to  the  foregoing  letter,  to  which  Dr.  Brown  had  called 
our  attention,  he  remarks  in  a  communication  just  received  as  we  were 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OP  THE  AUTHOR. 


49 


preparing  the  present  memoir,  “I  am  pleased  to  find  that  you  have 
obtained  Dr.  Lindsley’s  letter  to  which  I  referred  you.  It  is  the  most 
important  document  for  your  purpose,  in  my  knowledge.  Dr.  L. 
was  calm,  decisive  yet  impartial,  through  the  whole  of  the  tempestuous 
sessions  of  the  General  Assembly  of  1834,  which  lasted  three  weeks, 
and  was  a  scene  of  unceasing  conflicts.” 

Although  he  had  thus  in  his  office  of  Moderator  over  an  Assembly 
of  the  whole  church,  acted  with  such  even-handed  impartiality  that  his 
intimate  friends  could  not  tell  which  way  he  inclined,  still,  when  the 
issue  was  made  up,  and  the  final  division  effected  in  1838,  there  was  no 
indecision  or  hesitation  as  to  his  position.  He  took  his  stand  firmly 
with  the  Old  School  in  his  own  Presbytery  and  Synod,  as  was  fully 
evinced  in  the  decisive  action  of  the  latter  at  Huntsville  in  1839. 
Conservative  as  he  was  in  all  things,  and  utterly  opposed  to  fruitless 
speculation  and  innovation  in  theology,  he  could  not  have  done  other¬ 
wise. 

VIII.  REMOVAL  FROM  NASHVILLE. 

It  has  not  been  our  aim  to  tell  the  story  of  Dr.  Lindsley’s  life  by 
narrating  events  in  their  chronological  order,  but  to  single  out  certain 
prominent  periods  as  landmarks  along  the  way,  and  to  fill  up  the  inter¬ 
vals  between,  by  grouping  together  his  chief  studies,  attainments,  pur¬ 
suits  and  characteristics  at  each  epoch,  so  as  to  supply  what  was 
wanting  to  the  two  preceding  sketches.  Of  course  we  need  not  stop 
now  to  speak  of  his  great  life-work  at  Nashville,  as  an  educator, 
filling  up  the  twenty-six  years  of  his  presidency  in  the  University,  or  of 
his  ministerial  character  and  labours  during  that  long  period.  These 
we  have  already  attempted  to  describe  in  the  two  former  volumes.  It 
remains  only  to  touch  upon  a  few  points  of  interest,  connected  with 
his  resignation  of  the  presidency,  and  removal  to  another  field  of 
labour,  at  a  time  of  life  when  it  might  have  seemed  more  congenial  to 
his  feelings  to  remain  where  he  was,  and  repose  on  the  trophies  of  the 
past.  At  this  period  he  had  nearly  reached  the  age  of  sixty-four. 
His  intellect  was  active  and  vigorous,  and  his  studies  were  still  pur¬ 
sued  with  much  of  the  ardour  of  youth.  But  for  some  years  back,  at 
times  his  health  had  given  way,  and  under  the  weight  of  recent 
VOL.  in. — 4 


50 


A  SUPPLEMENTARY 


bereavements  in  tlie  family  circle,  though  his  eye  was  not  dimmed  in 
the  least,  his  physical  strength  was  somewhat  impaired. 

We  have  seen  with  what  reluctance,  even  after  a  long  struggle,  he 
had  torn  himself  away  from  Princeton  in  1824.  To  this  painful 
separation  was  probably  owing  the  fact  that  he  never  saw  it  again, 
though  he  visited  the  East  many  times  during  a  period  of  thirty  years. 
Still  more  trying  must  have  been  his  removal  from  Nashville.  There 
all  his  largest  plans  had  been  laid,  and  all  his  best  energies  exerted  for 
the  public  good.  There  some  of  his  children  were  already  married 
and  settled  in  life.  There  the  strongest  social  ties  had  been  formed 
with  many  faithful  friends,  who  for  twenty-six  years  had  borne  with  him 
the  heat  and  burden  of  the  day.  And  there  too,  recently  made,  were 
the  graves  of  the  dearest  objects  of  his  heart.  All  his  interests  were 
closely  identified  with  the  place  and  people,  and  until  the  combination 
of  circumstances  occurred  which  led  finally  to  his  removal,  he  had  prob¬ 
ably,  for  many  years,  entertained  no  other  thought  than  to  spend  the 
remnant  of  his  days  there.  To  those  at  a  distance  who  knew  all  the 
facts  of  his  history,  it  seemed  that  Nashville  could  better  have  spared 
any  one  else  of  her  citizens.  And  to  those  who  rightly  appreciated 
both  him  and  the  city,  it  seemed  a  matter  of  regret  that  he  should  not 
have  laboured  on,  even  to  the  close  of  life,  at  the  post  he  had  held  so 
long. 

It  is  not  our  purpose  here  to  enter  into  any  detailed  account  of  the 
causes  which  led  to  the  separation.  That  may  be  safely  left  to  the 
future  historian  of  the  University.  All  that  is  necessary  now  is  simply 
to  state  some  of  the  more  prominent  circumstances  in  view  of  which 
he  was  induced,  after  so  long,  laborious  and  successful  a  career,  to 
leave  the  city  of  his  adoption  and  enter  upon  another  department  of 
the  work  of  instruction  elsewhere.  It  often  occurs  that  the  ablest  and 
best  men,  under  an  unexpected,  perhaps  unavoidable  combination  of 
circumstances,  are  led  to  give  up  fields  of  usefulness,  which  all  others 
may  think  them  best  qualified  to  fill ;  and  in  such  cases,  while  we 
wonder  at  the  change,  we  are  reconciled  to  it  only  in  the  belief  that 
an  All-wise  Providence  is  thus  accomplishing  some  greater  good. 

In  1849,  in  order  to  carry  out  certain  views  which  he  had  long 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OE  THE  AUTHOR. 


51 


cherished,  Dr.  Lindsley  drew  up  and  submitted  to  the  Board  of  Trus¬ 
tees  a  Plan  for  organizing  and  sustaining  the  University,  differing 
essentially  from  the  former  one.  It  was  somewhat  analogous  to  the 
one  adopted  at  the  University  of  Virginia.  The  Board  cordially 
acceded  to  his  views,  and  determined  to  adopt  the  Plan  as  soon  as 
practicable.  The  rapid  extension  of  the  city,  however,  in  the  imme¬ 
diate  vicinity  of  the  old  buildings,  rendered  it  necessary  to  erect  new 
ones  in  another  and  more  suitable  quarter,  and  to  close  the  Univer¬ 
sity  for  a  short  season,  until  this  change  could  be  made.  It  was 
thought  that  the  reopening  of  the  institution,  in  its  new  buildings,  and 
on  more  commodious  grounds,  farther  out  from  the  city,  would  be  a 
favourable  time  at  which  to  inaugurate  the  new  and  larger  plans  pro¬ 
posed  by  the  President.  The  fall  of  1850  was  fixed  upon  as  the 
time  for  these  changes. 

So  far  as  the  University  was  concerned,  it  seemed  important  that 
he  should  remain  at  his  post,  in  order  to  carry  out  these  plans.  So 
far  also  as  its  past  history  or  present  condition  was  concerned,  there 
was  no  reason  why  he  should  have  retired.  In  April,  1850,  a  com¬ 
mittee  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  appointed  for  the  purpose,  published 
in  the  Nashville  papers  a  full  statement  of  its  financial  condition,  and 
of  its  general  history  and  progress  from  1824  to  that  time.  From 
that  document  it  appeared,  that  the  funds  of  the  institution,  small  at 
the  beginning,  had,  by  judicious  investment  and  economical  manage¬ 
ment,  especially  during  the  five  years  immediately  preceding,  so  in¬ 
creased  and  appreciated,  that  it  was  then  worth  from  115,000  to 
140,000  dollars  over  and  above  all  indebtedness.  It  also  appeared, 
that  during  this  whole  period  of  Dr.  Lindsley’s  presidency,  the  number 
of  students  had  been  larger  than  in  any  other  college  in  Tennessee,  con¬ 
sidering  that  there  never  had  been  any  preparatory  department  in  the 
University,  and  that  two-thirds  of  its  students  always  belonged  to  the 
two  higher  classes.  It  further  appeared,  that  the  last  six  graduating 
classes,  from  1843  to  1840  inclusive,  had  been  larger  than  any  other 
six  classes  together  that  had  ever  graduated  there — thus  demonstrating 
a  steady  increase,  not  only  of  funds,  but  of  efficiency,  to  the  last — and 
that,  too,  notwithstanding  two  successive  visitations  of  cholera  in  the 


52 


A  SUPPLEMENTARY 


city,  in  1848  and  1849,  and  the  lamented  death  thereby  of  one  of  its 
oldest  and  ablest  professors,  Mr.  James  Hamilton. 

But,  as  already  stated,  it  had  become  necessary  to  change  the  site,  erect 
new  buildings  and  close  the  University  for  a  season.  In  the  mean  time, 
that  is,  in  the  spring  of  1850,  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Theological 
Seminary  at  New  Albany,  Indiana,  had  created  a  new  professorship  in 
that  institution,  and  unanimously  elected  Dr.  Lindsley  to  the  chair. 
About  a  year  before,  April,  1849,  he  had  married  at  New  Albany,  Mrs. 
Mary  Ann  Ayers,  the  widow  of  his  kinsman,  Elias  Ayers,  the  founder  of 
the  Seminary.  In  the  summer  of  1850,  Dr.  Girard  Troost,  another  old 
and  distinguished  professor,  who  had  served  with  him  twenty-two  years 
in  the  University,  also  died.  All  these  circumstances  taken  together  had 
their  influence;  and,  in  connection  with  some  other  things  occurring  at 
the  same  time,  which  need  not  be  mentioned  now,  he  was  induced  to 
remove  to  New  Albany.  At  the  urgent  solicitation,  however,  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees,  and  of  a  large  senior  class  in  the  University,  who 
expected  to  graduate  in  the  fall,  and  would  be  greatly  disappointed 
to  lose  his  lectures,  he  remained  to  the  close  of  the  collegiate  year, 
October  2,  1850.  His  last  public  service  in  the  University  was  a  dis¬ 
course  at  that  Commencement,  on  the  Life  and  Character  of  his  old 
associate,  Dr.  Troost.  And  thus  closed  one  of  the  most  laborious, 
important  and  successful  presidencies  as  yet  recorded  in  the  annals  of 
American  colleges.  It  is  not  always  that  our  rising  institutions,  espe¬ 
cially  in  the  West  and  South,  have  been  able  to  secure  a  labourer  and 
a  governor  so  faithful,  so  persevering,  and  so  accomplished.  It  is  not 
often  that  a  city,  such  as  Nashville  was  in  1824,  has  had  the  good 
fortune  to  obtain  the  presence  and  the  influence  of  one  who  compre¬ 
hended  so  well  the  problem  of  her  highest  good,  and  who  strove  so 
earnestly  and  so  long  to  put  her  in  possession  of  it. 

IX.  HIS  WORK  AT  NEW  ALBANY. 

Dr.  Lindsley  removed  to  New  Albany  in  December,  1850.  The 
professorship  in  the  Theological  Seminary  at  that  place,  to  which  he 
had  been  elected  the  preceding  April,  was  a  new  one,  created  by  the 
Board  of  Directors  at  that  time,  and  entitled  the  Chair  of  Ecclesias- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OP  THE  AUTHOR. 


53 


tical  Polity  and  Biblical  Archaeology.  From  the  foregoing  sketch  it 
will  be  seen  how  eminently  fitted  he  was,  by  his  past  studies,  for  that 
position.  Archaeology,  History  and  Government  had  been  the  sub¬ 
jects  of  his  critical  research  and  his  constant  reading  from  a  very  early 
period.  He  at  once,  with  the  opening  of  the  year  1851,  commenced 
his  course  of  lectures  on  the  subjects  of  his  department.  He  was  not, 
however,  formally  inaugurated  in  his  new  office  till  the  thirteenth  of 
November  following,  when  he  delivered  an  address,  a  copy  of  which 
was  requested  by  the  Board  for  publication,  and  the  substance  of 
which  will  be  found  among  the  works  now  published. 

As  stated  already,  in  the  brief  record  of  his  life,  given  in  our  intro¬ 
duction  to  the  first  of  these  volumes,  he  did  not  hold  this  professorship 
to  the  time  of  his  death,  in  1855.  He  in  fact  tendered  his  resignation 
to  the  Board  at  three  different  times:  first  in  July,  1852;  again  in 
April,  1853,  when  it  was  proposed  to  transfer  the  institution  to  the 
General  Assembly  ;  and  finally  in  April,  1854,  when  it  was  reluctantly 
accepted  by  the  Board  of  Directors. 

The  following  communication  from  one  of  his  colleagues  in  the 
Seminary  at  New  Albany,  Bev.  Dr.  Stewart,  addressed  to  us  under 
date  of  September  12,  1860,  from  Camden,  New  Jersey,  will  suffi¬ 
ciently  illustrate  his  character  and  attainments  at  this  closing  period 
of  life.  The  memoir  referred  to  is  the  introductory  sketch  in  the  first 
volume : — 

Reverend  and  Dear  Sir  : — I  received  by  post  your  brief  memoir 
of  Dr.  P.  Lindsley,  and  have  read  it  with  great  interest.  It  has  served 
to  recall  to  my  mind  many  pleasing  memories  of  that  eminent  Chris¬ 
tian  gentleman  and  scholar,  with  whom  it  wTas  my  happiness  to  be 
associated  during  a  few  of  his  latter  years. 

I  became  acquainted  with  Dr.  Lindsley  in  the  year  1850,  soon  after  he 
had  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  with  Mrs.  Ayers,  a  lady  well  known 
for  her  Christian  liberality  and  esteemed  for  her  many  social  virtues. 
The  Board  of  Directors  of  the  New  Albany  Theological  Seminary 
had  extended  to  him  an  invitation  to  occupy  one  of  the  chairs  of 
instruction  in  that  institution,  which  led  to  his  immediate  removal 


54 


A  SUPPLEMENTARY 


from  Nashville  to  this  place,  where  he  spent  the  closing  years  of  his 
useful  life.  It  was  apparent  to  all  who  saw  him  for  the  first  time, 
that  increasing  years  and  cares  had  weighed  upon  his  physical  nature ; 
but  the  briefest  acquaintance  made  it  equally  apparent,  that  his  mind 
had  lost  nothing  of  its  activity  and  vigour. 

As  it  respects  Dr.  Lindsley’s  relations  to  the  Theological  Seminary, 
they  were  of  the  most  pleasant  and  agreeable  character.  He  was 
highly  esteemed  by  his  associates  for  his  great  urbanity  and  polished 
scholarship,  which  were  conspicuous  at  all  times  and  in  all  places; 
and  greatly  respected  and  beloved  by  the  students  who  received  his 
instructions.  But,  from  circumstances  connected  with  the  affairs  of 
that  institution,  and  from  the  indefinite  character  of  the  duties  which 
devolved  on  him  as  an  instructor,  he  made  no  special  effort  to  inaugu¬ 
rate  a  course  of  exact  study.  His  lectures  were  somewhat  discursive, 
always  interesting,  but  probably  not  such  as  he  would  have  delivered 
at  an  earlier  period  of  his  life.  During  his  connection  with  the  Sem¬ 
inary  there  was  little  or  nothing  to  stimulate  or  encourage.  The 
number  of  students  was  small  and  constantly  decreasing,  its  resources 
extremely  limited,  and  a  general  apathy  had  seized  upon  its  friends. 
All  this  Dr.  Lindsley  was  not  slow  to  perceive,  and  consequently  he  felt 
that  his  relations  to  it  as  an  instructor  could  have  no  great  permanency. 
It  is  known  to  the  writer  of  this  that  his  professional  mantle  sat 
loosely  on  him,  and  that  he  stood  ready  at  any  moment  to  lay  it  aside. 
There  was,  in  these  circumstances,  scarcely  any  opportunity  to  bring 
his  well-trained  mind  as  an  educator  to  bear  upon  the  interests  of 
theological  instruction.  It  is,  therefore,  to  a  former  period  of  his 
career  that  we  must  look  for  the  controlling  influence  which  he  exerted 
on  the  interests  of  education  in  all  its  bearings. 

But,  out  of  sight  of  the  public,  in  the  more  limited  sphere  of  private 
friendship,  it  was  constantly  apparent  how  richly  stored  was  his  mind 
with  useful  and  varied  learning,  and  how  well  fitted  he  was  to  impart 
these  treasures  to  others.  It  was  here  that  his  tastes  and  mental  char¬ 
acteristics  came  out  into  distinct  view.  While  thoroughly  versed  in 
theology,  and  conversant  with  the  metaphysical  distinctions  of  the 
schools,  his  decided  preference  lay  in  the  direction  of  the  natural 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OF  THE  AUTHOR. 


55 


sciences  and  general  literature  in  their  relations  to  the  volume  of 
Revelation.  He  manifested  but  little  inclination  for  mere  theological 
discussion.  He  co?uld  never  be  a  zealous  polemic.  While  warmly 
attached  to  the  system  of  doctrine  received  by  his  own  denomination, 
he  embraced  with  affection  the  whole  Evangelical  Church.  His  cath¬ 
olic  spirit  led  him  to  magnify  the  points  of  agreement,  rattier  than  the 
points  of  difference,  between  the  various  branches  of  the  Church  of 
God.  It  was,  however,  towards  science,  in  its  modern  development 
as  affecting  the  great  interests  of  religion,  that  his  thoughts  were  most 
frequently  turned.  In  the  study  of  this  he  felt  the  deepest  interest, 
especially  in  its  bearings  on  theological  instruction.  He  saw  that 
here  was  the  stronghold  of  modern  infidelity,  and  that.it  was  of  first- 
rate  importance  that  those  set  for  the  defence  of  the  truth  should  be 
thoroughly  fortified  at  this  point.  There  was  nothing  of  any  value, 
written  or  published,  on  this  general  subject,  which  he  had  not  read; 
and  on  all  points  where  science  and  Christianity  touched,  his  views 
were  clear  and  fixed.  His  opinions  were  the  result  of  much  reflection, 
and  on  all  points  they  occupied  the  high  ground  of  Christian  conserv¬ 
atism.  It  was  refreshing  to  observe  how  far  his  appreciative  mind 
was  removed  from  the  dogmatism  of  the  mere  student  of  science,  who 
has  never  sat  at  the  feet  of  the  Great  Teacher,  as  from  that  of  the 
student  of  theology  who  has  never  listened  to  the  utterances  of  nature. 
His  humble  bearing  was  not  less  striking  than  his  profound  learning. 

Nor  was  it  on  account  of  any  mere  novelty  in  the  views  and  opin¬ 
ions  which  marked  the  more  recent  publications  in  the  various  depart¬ 
ments  of  natural  science,  that  he  read  with  so  much  avidity.  Scarcely 
anything  was  produced,  during  these  latter  years  of  his  life,  in  the  way 
of  removing  the  objections  and  difficulties  which  science  had  raised 
against  Revelation,  which  had  not  already  been  the  subject  of  serious 
reflection  in  his  own  mind,  and,  in  several  instances,  of  written  dis¬ 
course.  Nothing  seemed  new  to  him;  yet  nothing  was  without  inter¬ 
est.  Whatever  reached  the  public  eye,  through  the  press,  in  any  way 
connected  with  Physical  Geography,  Geology  and  Ethnology,  was 
subjected  to  the  closest  scrutiny,  and  made  to  contribute  to  the  enter¬ 
tainment  and  profit  of  those  who  enjoyed  the  pleasure  of  his  society ; 


56 


A  SUPPLEMENTARY 


and,  not  unfrequently,  these  seemed  only  as  the  occasion  for  the  resus¬ 
citation  of  thoughts  that  had  been  slumbering  in  his  own  mind.  In  a 
conversation,  which  turned  on  the  unity  of  the  human  race,  reference 
was  made  to  a  work  recently  published,  which  accounted  for  the  exist¬ 
ing  diversity  among  the  different  nations  by  attributing  this  diversity 
to  the  dispersion  which  took  place  at  Babel.  He  not  only  gave  his 
approval  of  the  theory,  but  furnished  the  evidence,  that  he  himself 
had  years  before  given  publicity  to  the  same  opinion.  He  felt  all  the 
weakness  of  the  theory  of  the  distinguished  Prichard,  which  attempts 
to  explain  this  diversity  of  colour  on  climatic  principles — a  view  which 
has  recently  been  reproduced  by  more  than  one  writer — but  which,  in 
the  light  of  the  incontestable  fact,  that  the  Ethiopian  was  as  black  in 
the  days  of  Moses  as  at  the  present  day,  and  the  very  slender  evidence 
furnished  by  the  great  English  ethnologist,  that  white  men  ever  be¬ 
come  black,  he  was  led  to  reject  as  utterly  untenable.  His  mind 
rested  on  the  great  biblical  fact,  as  offering  the  only  satisfactory 
explanation  of  this  difficult  problem,  and,  at  the  same  time,  the  best 
answer  to  the  attacks  of  science,  falsely  so  called. 

In  this  familiar  intercourse,  Dr.  Lindsley’s  conversation  was  always 
instructive  ;  his  mind  seemed  to  be  continually  overflowing  with  the 
accumulations  of  past  years  or  was  marked  by  great  versatility,  his 
thoughts  passing  from  topic  to  topic  without  any  apparent  effort; 
his  familiarity  with  the  men  and  measures  of  his  own  day,  with  ancient 
and  modern  literature,  with  all  forms  of  educational  appliances  en¬ 
abled  him  to  adapt  his  discourse  to  the  society  in  which  he  was  thrown. 
He  was  never  at  a  loss,  always  ready  to  make  himself  agreeable  to  all — 
to  those  advanced  in  years  like  himself,  deferential;  to  the  young,  en¬ 
tertaining;  with  a  courtesy  which  never  transcended  the  limits  of 
good  taste,  he  used  his  own  matured  knowledge  to  correct  the  imper¬ 
fections  of  those  who  waited  on  his  instruction ;  and,  without  as¬ 
suming  the  air  of  a  censor,  pointed  out  and  corrected  many  a  fault. 
His  knowledge  of  the  English  language,  its  idioms,  its  peculiarities,  its 
pronunciation,  was  of  the  most  exact  character.  His  ear  was  so  deli¬ 
cately  attuned  to  the  niceties  of  sound  that  he  observed  every  defect¬ 
ive  utterance,  and  in  a  way  for  which  many  will  thank  him,  suggested 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OF  THE  AUTHOR. 


57 


the  proper  mode.  In  this  respect,  Dr.  Lindsley  was  a  model  instructor; 
and  I  have  often  thought  it  would  be  a  happy  circumstance  if  our  young 
men  who  are  preparing  for  the  learned  professions,  and  especially  such 
as  are  to  occupy  the  pulpit,  could  enjoy  the  supervision  of  just  such  a 
careful  observer — one  whose  instructions,  instead  of  being  confined  to 
the  lecture-room,  would,  in  the  same  authoritative  but  courteous 
manner,  be  delivered  in  the  social  circle.  It  is  needless  to  sav  how 
often  the  educated  ear  is  offended  while  listening  to  the  discourses  of 
many,  high  in  the  public  estimation,  simply  for  the  lack  of  this.  But 
it  is  seldom  one  meets  with  a  mind  so  completely  educated  in  this 
respect  as  was  Dr.  Lindsley’s. 

It  was  in  the  social  circle  that  his  powers  of  conversation  found  the 
widest  scope.  Genial  and  fond  of  society,  he  loved  the  company  of  his 
friends,  and  during  the  few  years  of  his  sojourn  in  New  Albany  the  resi¬ 
dence  of  Dr.  Lindsley  and  his  estimable  lady  was  the  centre  of  many  de¬ 
lightful  reunions.  These  were  much  enlivened  by  the  Doctor’s  animated 
conversation — a  talent  which  he  possessed  to  a  rare  degree,  and  which 
would  have  made  him  conspicuous  in  any  circle.  His  memory  at  this 
period,  less  retentive  than  it  had  been  once,  betrayed  him  occasionally 
into  repetitions,  but  at  all  times  there  was  a  sincerity  and  earnestness, 
together  with  a  freshness  of  thought,  wrhich  commanded  respect  and 
attention.  He  did  not  talk  merely  to  pass  away  time,  it  was  with  him 
a  real  pleasure,  and  he  seemed  to  throw  his  whole  soul  into  the  sub¬ 
ject  which  occupied  his  thoughts  as  much  at  times  as  if  he  were  dis¬ 
coursing  to  a  class  in  the  lecture-room. 

But  the  crowning  ornament  of  his  fine  character  was  the  ripe 
fruits  of  simple  confiding  faith  in  the  word  of  God.  In  his  mind  the 
things  difficult  and  hard  to  be  understood-  were  as  easy  of  belief  as 
the  simplest  and  plainest  utterances  of  inspiration.  Its  grand  truths 
stood  out  before  him  as  facts  not  to  be  questioned — difficult  of  com¬ 
prehension,  but  as  true  as  any  fact  in  the  natural  world.  His  piety 
was  of  the  most  child-like  type.  There  was  nothing  like  cant  or  af¬ 
fected  sanctity  about  him,  but  a  profound  veneration  for  things  sacred 
or  divine  shone  out  in  his  whole  life.  His  supplications  at  a  throne  of 
grace  were  fervent  and  devout,  and  no  one  could  listen  to  his  simple 


58 


A  SUPPLEMENTARY 


and  solemn  utterances  in  prayer  without  feeling  that  he  was  drawing 
near  to  his  Father’s  house. 

Years  have  passed  away  since  I  went  in  and  out  at  his  hospitable 
door.  Many  things  have  been  obliterated  from  my  memory,  but  I 
shall  never  forget  his  grave,  earnest,  and  scholar-like  countenance, 
always  beaming  with  intelligence,  his  gentle  and  winning  manners 
and  the  warmth  of  his  salutations.  He  was  confiding  and  unsus¬ 
pecting  ;  I  never  knew  him  to  speak  harshly  or  in  terms  of  unkindness 
to  any  one;  the  charity  which  thinketh  no  evil,  constituted  a  large 
element  in  his  character.  I  knew  him  only  to  love  and  esteem  him 
for  his  great  worth;  his  memory  I  cherish  with  feelings  akin  to  filial 
affection ;  and  on  the  pile  which  you  have  thrown  up  to  his  memory, 
let  me  drop  this  pebble  picked  up  at  the  ebb-tide  of  his  existence. 

Yours,  etc.,  DAN’L  STEWART. 

X.  DOMESTIC  AND  SOCIAL  RELATIONS. 

In  the  fragmentary  and  imperfect  memoir  which  we  have  here  given,  it 
will  not  be  necessary  to  say  much  on  a  topic  of  this  kind.  Our  purpose 
being  mainly  to  delineate  Dr.  Lindsley’s  character  in  his  public  and 
official  relations,  to  describe  his  educational  and  ministerial  labours, 
and  the  varied  studies  and  attainments  which  distinguished  him  as  a 
writer  and  public  speaker,  thus  far  we  have  not  had  occasion  to  ven¬ 
ture  within  the  sanctuary  of  home  and  the  family  circle,  to  speak  distinctly 
of  the  social  and  religious  affections  which  are  brought  to  view  in  the 
foregoing  letter.  No  character,  however,  can  be  adequately  or  even 
justly  portrayed  without  some  reference  to  this  point.  Nothing  indeed 
is  more  interesting  and  instructive  than  to  follow  the  good  man  from 
the  busy  labours  of  official  station  or  the  silent  vigils  of  mental  toil,  to 
the  retreats  of  private  affection,  where  he  unbends  and  disports  him¬ 
self  in  the  bosom  of  his  family.  It  is  not  often  that  the  great  bustling 
world  without  has  any  conception  of  what  is  going  on,  in  the  way  of 
genial  and  loving  sympathy,  in  these  home  sanctuaries  of  the  scholar 
and  man  of  letters.  No  men  on  earth  are  probably  so  little  under¬ 
stood  and  so  often  misrepresented  as  those  who  spend  their  lives  in 
study.  For  no  better  reason  than  that  they  are  silent  and  thoughtful 
in  a  crowd,  they  are  often  regarded  as  exclusive  and  unsocial. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OF  THE  AUTHOR. 


59 


There  was,  no  doubt,  an  impression  of  this  sort  in  the  minds  of 
some  persons,  respecting  Dr.  Lindsley.  But  it  was  a  mistake.  It 
would  have  been  impossible,  in  the  nature  of  things,  for  any  man  to 
give  as  much  time  as  he  did  to  study,  and  to  accomplish  the  amount 
of  reading  and  writing  which  he  accomplished,  and  yet  not  appear  at 
times  reserved  and  uncommunicative  to  persons  little  given  to  such 
pursuits  themselves.  But  in  every  congenial  and  appreciative  circle 
no  man  was  fonder  of  the  interchange  of  thought  and  feeling,  and 
none  more  excelled  in  conversational  powers.  He  had  no  gift,  and  no 
great  admiration  for  the  chatty  nonsense,  of  what  is  sometimes  called 
good  society,  but  it  needed  only  an  intellectual,  cultivated  company 
of  friends,  and  the  stimulus  of  an  important  theme,  and  there  was  at 
once  the  unrestrained  flow  of  eloquent,  brilliant,  sparkling  speech,  as 
from  a  perennial,  inexhaustible  fountain.  On  every  such  occasion,  he 
became,  as  a  matter  of  course,  the  chief  speaker ;  and  when  the  scene 
was  his  own  fire-side  or  social  board,  his  guests  not  unfrequently 
retired,  wondering  how  the  time  had  fled.  Many  an  intelligent 
stranger  too,  meeting  him  for  the  first  time  on  some  of  his  travels, 
and  thrown  for  a  few  days  into  his  company,  has  left  him,  only  to 
regret  that  he  could  not  know  more  of  one  so  full  of  all  useful  knowl¬ 
edge,  and  so  gifted  in  the  power  of  imparting  it. 

But  his  home  was  his  Eden,  and  except  when  invaded  by  disease, 
or  overshadowed  by  death,  there  was  everything  in  it  to  make  life 
peaceful  and  joyous.  Few  men  perhaps  have  ever  had  a  more  genial 
and  happy  home  ;  for  few  could  have  been  more  blest  in  the  compan¬ 
ion  of  his  early  choice,  and  in  the  children  of  their  mutual  love. 
From  some  indications  already  given,  in  the  notice  of  his  early  years, 
it  might  be  inferred  that  he  possessed,  in  a  high  degree,  those  social 
qualities  and  susceptibilities  which  are  so  well  calculated  to  impart 
and  to  receive  happiness  in  the  domestic  circle.  And  accordingly  we 
find,  through  all  the  relationships  of  life,  repeated  evidences  of  that 
intense  and  ardent  affection  which  first  showed  itself  in  the  love  of 
a  noble  mother.  Some  of  these  examples  are  so  touching  and  beauti¬ 
ful  that  we  shall  be  pardoned  for  introducing  them  here,  as  illustra¬ 
tions  of  his  social  and  religious  character. 


60 


A  SUPPLEMENTARY 


In  all  his  trips  to  the  East,  he  had  ever  made  it  a  point  of  duty  to 
visit  his  mother,  in  New  Jersey,  as  long  as  she  lived.  We  find  the 
following  record  of  her  decease  in  his  journal  for  1854: — 

“ January  30. — I  this  day  received  a  letter  informing  me  of  the 
decease  of  my  beloved  and  ever -honoured  mother.  She  died  at  Madi¬ 
son,  Morris  County,  New  Jersey,  on  Friday,  January  20,  1854,  about 
five  o’clock  p.m.  Had  she  lived  two  months  longer,  she  would  have 
completed  eighty-six  years.  She  was  born  March  21,  1163.  Having 
lived  a  most  exemplary  and  useful  Christian  life,  she  departed  in  peace, 
and  in  the  full  assurance  of  a  blessed  immortality. 

“March  4. — I  have  just  read  the  135th  number  of  the  American 
Messenger  for  March  of  the  present  year.  In  it  I  read  with  intense 
interest  the  following  communication  : — 

[Fox-  the  American  Messenger.] 

“‘Wiiat  will  our  Children  think  of  us  when  they  are  old? 
— A  venerable  widow,  now  eighty-five,  has  but  a  dim  recollection  even 
of  her  own  children,  but  a  scene  in  the  life  of  her  father  is  still  vividly 
before  her.  He  was  an  officer  in  the  army  of  the  Hevolution,  and,  be¬ 
lieving  it  necessary  to  be  inoculated  for  the  small-pox,  before  subjecting 
himself  to  the  disease,  he  visited  his  home.  He  gathered  his  family 
around  the  domestic  altar,  and  solemnly  commended  them  to  God,  and 
then  took  leave  of  them — not  knowing  but  it  would  be,  as  it  proved 
to  be,  his  last  earthly  meeting  with  those  dear  ones.  As  he  was  leav¬ 
ing  the  house,  this  daughter,  his  youngest  child,  followed  him  out  upon 
the  porch.  He  turned  back,  took  her  in  his  arms,  kissed  and  fervently 
blessed  her,  and  departed.  She  never  saw  him  again ;  but  that  kiss 
and  that  blessing  are  now  as  fresh  as  though  of  yesterday.  This  scene 
she  often  recounts  with  the  tears  streaming  down  her  cheeks.  Next 
to  the  memory  of  her  Saviour,  she  delights  in  the  memory  of  her 
father.  The  burdens  of  age  are  lightened  by  such  recollections. 
Parents,  what  are  we  tracing  of  ourselves  upon  the  memory  of  our 
children  ?  What  will  our  children  think  of  us  when  they  are  old  V 
“Who  was  the  writer  of  the  above  I  know  not;  but  the  subject  of 
it  was  my  sainted  mother.  Often  have  I  heard  the  story  from  her 
own  affectionate  lips.  That  last  sad  interview  with  her  father  seemed 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OF  THE  AUTHOR. 


01 


ever  present  to  her  mind.  She  told  me  all  about  him  when  I  was  a 
little  child — how  good  he  was — and  how  dearly  she  loved  him.  My 
last  visit  to  her  was  in  October,  1852.  I  passed  some  ten  days  at  her 
house,  in  Madison,  New  Jersey.  She  then  repeated  to  me  the  parting 
scene  with  her  father,  as  quoted  from  the  Messenger.  Colonel  Eben- 
ezer  Condict,  her  father,  died  of  small-pox,  in  camp,  April  2,  1117, 
near  Mendham — Washington’s  headquarters  being  at  Morristown. 
My  mother  was  nine  years  old,  and  her  father  about  forty.” 

In  this  connection,  we  may  add  another  interesting  record,  taken 
from  a  foregoing  page  : — 

“My  mother  often  saw  General  Washington  while  the  army  had 
their  winter  quarters  at  Morristown  and  vicinity,  and  she  retains  a 
distinct  recollection  of  his  appearance,  manners,  etc.  He  occasionally 
visited  at  her  mother’s  house,  where  was  quartered  General  Gist,  of 
the  Maryland  line.  He  sometimes  dined  there.  He  often  amused 
himself  with  her  as  a  playful  child— spoke  kind  words  to  her  about 
her  father,  whom  he  highly  esteemed,  and  whose  recent  death  (by 
small-pox  in  camp)  he  deeply  deplored.  She  became  greatly  attached 
to  him.  His  benevolent,  affectionate,  pleasant  manner  won  her  confi¬ 
dence,  and  caused  her  to  forget  the  warrior  in  the  friend.  She  men¬ 
tioned  numerous  little  events  and  incidents  characteristic  cf  the  good 
man — such  as  a  child  nine  or  ten  years  old  would  be  likely  to  notice 
and  to  be  impressed  with.  She  was  present  in  the  old  Presbyterian 
Church  at  Morristown,  when  General  Washington  partook  of  the 
Lord’s  Supper  with  the  Rev.  Dr.  Timothy  Johnes  and  his  people,  as 
narrated  by  Dr.  Hosack  in  his  Life  of  De  Witt  Clinton.  (See  also 
Barber  and  Howe’s  Historical  Collections  of  New  Jersey,  p.  388.) 
She  described  to  me,  with  minute  particularity  and  accuracy,  the 
localities,  seats,  tables,  persons  present  and  officiating — differing  much 
from  present  modes  and  forms,  but  corresponding  exactly  with  the 
usages  of  that  day,  and  of  the  early  period  within  my  own  memory. 

“  She  remarked  that  she  had  never  seen  a  good — that  is,  a  correct 
likeness  of  Washington.  Perhaps  her  opinion  would  have  been  dif¬ 
ferent,  had  she  ever  beheld  the  general  at  the  head  of  his  troops  or  on 
the  battle-field.  The  portraits  are  all  too  grave,  solemn,  warlike,  to 


62 


A  SUPPLEMENTARY 


accord  with  the  smiling,  cheerful,  benignant  countenance  of  the  social 
guest  and  orphan’s  friend — as  she  had  known  and  loved  him. 

“The  American  army,  under  Washington,  had  their  winter  quarters 
at  Morristown  and  vicinity  on  two  different  occasions.  The  first  time 
was  in  January,  1777,  immediately  after  the  battles  of  Trenton  and 
Princeton.  The  second  was  during  the  winter  of  1779-80.” 

But  we  pass  to  another  touching  illustration  of  those  deep  and 
tender  sympathies  which  he  cherished  towards  the  objects  of  his  love. 
It  was  when  death  threw  its  dark  shadow  over  the  loving  and  happy 
household.  In  1844,  the  youngest  child,  Philip,  a  little  more  than 
nine  years  old,  was  taken  sick,  and  died.  The  following  passage, 
indicating  how  deeply  all  the  chords  of  parental  affection  had  been 
touched,  has  seemed  to  us,  on  many  accounts,  to  be  one  of  the  most 
characteristic,  and,  at  the  same  time,  one  of  the  most  beautiful,  which 
we  have  seen  from  his  pen.  It  reveals  the  whole  heart  of  its  author 
as  one  of  exceeding  tenderness.  After  describing  the  funeral  services, 
from  the  text — “Is  it  well  with  the  child?  And  she  answered,  It  is 
well” — he  says  : — 

“He  was  carefully  deposited  in  the  narrow  house,  between  twelve 
and  one  o’clock.  The  grave  was  deep — lined  with  hard  brick  at  bot¬ 
tom  and  sides — the  coffin  carefully  deposited,  with  planks  of  cedar 
around  it  as  an  outer  box — then  all  arched  over  with  brick  by  the 
mason — so  that  no  earth  fell  harshly  upon  the  coffin-lid.  It  was  a 
sweet-looking  house — secure  from  the  approach  of  envy  or  ambition — 
a  calm  resting-place — a  bed  of  repose — never  more  to  be  disturbed  or 
alarmed  until  the  morning  of  the  resurrection,  when  radiant  in  beauty 
he  shall  be  raised  ‘a  spiritual  body.’ 

“He  was  the  ‘loved  one’  of  the  family.  Oh!  how  we  loved  him! 
And  oh  !  how  he  loved  us  !  Docile,  obedient,  meek,  gentle,  mild, 
modest,  unobtrusive,  ingenuous,  trustful,  affectionate,  dutiful,  without 
guile  or  envy,  ever  ready  to  share  his  little  treasures  with  his  com¬ 
panions,  or  to  bestow  them  on  the  needy.  Beautiful  and  lovely — with 
a  lofty  forehead — bright,  dark,  speaking  eye — chestnut  hair — most  ex¬ 
pressive  countenance — always  joyous,  but  never  boisterous.  Sensitive, 
ethereal,  intelligent — unsophisticated  by  evil  communications — the  con- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OP  THE  AUTHOR. 


G3 


slant  associate  and  friend  of  his  parents,  brothers  and  sisters,  he  knew 
nothing  of  the  selfish,  artificial,  deceptive  or  corrupting  manners  and 
influences  to  which  most  children  are,  sooner  or  later,  exposed.  He 
was  perhaps  kindly  taken  from  the  evil  to  come :  and  removed  to  a 
better  school  and  a  safer  home  ! 

“His  moral  and  intellectual  developments  appeared  extraordinary 
— almost  angelic — at  least  to  the  partial  eye  of  doting  affection— and 
seemed  to  promise  much  for  the  future.  Precious,  noble,  generous 
boy  1  We  shall  ne’er  behold  his  like  again.  Oh,  why  given  ?  And  oh, 
why  taken  away  ?  He  was  our  little  Benjamin,  the  pet,  perhaps  the 
idol,  of  the  family.  He  was  younger,  by  ten  years  and  two  months , 
than  any  of  our  other  children.  He  was  singularly  courteous  and 
manly  in  his  bearing,  and  in  all  his  intercourse  with  society.  He  never 
failed  to  attract  the  special  notice  and  admiration  even  of  strangers, 
whenever  seen  by  them.  He  was  beloved  by  all  the  poor  children  of 
the  neighbourhood.  He  was  kind,  obliging  and  grateful  to  everybody. 
Among  the  last  of  his  spoken  thoughts  was  the  suggestion  to  his 
mother  of  plans  of  helping  certain  of  his  little  friends  whom  he  named. 
He  seemed,  during  the  whole  period  of  his  sickness,  to  think  more 
of  others  than  of  himself.  He  expressed  a  wish  to  see  God !  Ah ! 
whither  has  he  gone  ?  Where  is  he  now  ?  Shall  we  ever  behold  him 
again  ?  Shall  we  go  to  him  ?  Months  have  passed  away,  (February, 
1845,)  but  the  bright  vision  is  ever  present — the  sweet  countenance  of 
our  loving  boy  is  always  before  the  eye  of  our  hearts — we  dream  of 
him — sigh  and  weep  in  secret — glance  at  the  numerous  tokens  of  his 
taste  and  ingenious  industry  all  over  the  house  and  grounds,  in  silence 
— we  utter  no  words  of  sorrow  or  complaint— the  anguish  of  our  spirit 
is  not  assuaged — the  world  around  us  wears  the  aspect  of  desolation 
and  bereavement.  A  cherub  in  the  skies  is  beckoning  us  upward  and 
homeward  to  the  peaceful  mansions  of  the  blessed — to  the  New  Jeru¬ 
salem,  where  God  shall  wipe  away  all  tears  from  our  eyes ;  and  there 
shall  be  no  more  death,  neither  sorrow  nor  crying,  neither  shall  there 
be  any  more  pain;  for  the  former  things  are  passed  away.” 

In  little  more  than  a  year  after  this  affliction,  (December,  1845,)  he 
was  called  on  to  pass  through  another  and  still  greater  bereavement. 


64 


A  SUPPLEMENTARY 


Margaret  Elizabeth  Lawrence,  the  wife  of  his  youth,  the  mother  of 
his  children,  for  thirty-two  years  the  companion  of  every  joy  and  every 
sorrow  of  his  heart,  was  removed  from  her  earthly  household  to  the 
“house  not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens.”  It  does  not 
fall  within  our  province  here  to  speak  of  this  eminently  pious  and 
gifted  lady.  Indeed,  nothing  more  or  better  could  be  said,  than  to 
present  in  full,  an  obituary  notice  and  tribute  to  her  memory,  prepared 
by  himself  at  the  time,  and  occupying  thirty-two  pages  of  his  journal. 
We  never  met  with  a  more  strikingly  beautiful  and  appropriate  testi¬ 
monial  to  the  virtues  of  a  wife  and  mother.  We  wish  it  were  allow¬ 
able  to  insert  it  entire  in  this  memoir.  But  it  was  written,  as  he 
states,  exclusively  for  the  eye  of  his  children,  that  “they  might  be  able 
hereafter  to  comprehend  more  fully  the  worth  of  their  incomparable 
mother;”  and  we  do  not  feel  justified  in  making  any  other  use  of  it 
than  that  to  which  he  had  thus  consecrated  it.  We  may,  however, 
without  any  breach  of  propriety,  as  illustrative  both  of  her  eminent 
Christian  character,  and  his  own  feelings  under  such  a  loss,  give  a  few 
paragraphs : — ■ 

“In  her  youthful  days,  in  the  City  of  New  York  and  elsewhere,  she 
had  seen  enough  of  fashionable  life  to  be  able  to  estimate,  at  its  fair 
value,  the  whole  circle  of  its  vanities  and  enchantments.  She  stu¬ 
diously  and  resolutely  avoided  every  approach  to  its  insidious,  unchris¬ 
tian  dominion.  She  kept  her  children  from  its  allurements.  She 
neither  read,  nor  permitted  them  to  read,  novels,  romances,  or  any 
books  calculated  to  dissipate  the  mind  or  to  weaken  the  moral  and 
religious  principles  which  she  daily  inculcated,  and  uniformly  exem¬ 
plified  in  her  conduct.  Graceful,  accomplished,  fascinating  in  her 
manners,  and  in  all  respects  qualified  to  shine  in  the  gay  world — she 
renounced  it  wholly  on  assuming  the  obligations  of  a  wife,  mother  and 
Christian.  Nay,  before  this,  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  in  prospect  of 
her  connection  with  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  she  resolved  never  more 
to  frequent  any  party,  or  scene,  or  place,  or  amusement  which  it  would 
be  improper  for  a  clergyman  to  attend. 

“  Such  was  her  good  sense,  such  her  clear  perceptions  of  propriety, 
such  her  deep  conviction  of  duty,  such  her  fervent  aspirations  to  be- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OF  THE  AUTHOR. 


65 


come  in  reality  all  that  a  consecrated  Christian  woman  ought  to  be, 

that  probably,  henceforth,  none  of  her  most  familiar  acquaintance  ever 

heard  from  her  a  word,  or  witnessed  an  action,  that  would  be  deemed 

inconsistent  with  the  holiest  devotion  to  the  cross  of  her  Redeemer. 

Thus  consistent  and  devoted  she  ever  lived.  Truthful,  confiding,  just, 

sincere,  honest,  charitable,  generous — humble,  courteous,  affectionate, 

magnanimous  —  without  guile,  envy,  jealousy  or  covetousness  —  free 

from  selfishness  and  all  worldly  ambition — strictly  conscientious  in  every 

act  and  purpose  of  her  life — a  purer,  more  transparent,  more  sternly 

upright  being  I  have  never  known.  Artless,  simple,  unobtrusive, 

* 

kindly,  gentle,  unpretending,  respectful  in  her  manner — she  insensibly 
won  the  hearts  of  all  who  were  sufficiently  intimate  with  her  to  appre¬ 
ciate  her  character. 

“But  her  troubles,  pains,  sorrows,  are  ended:  and  we  are  left  to 
mourn  our  irreparable  loss,  though  it  be  her  unspeakable  gain.  My 
friend,  companion,  counsellor — the  wisest,  truest,  safest,  most  judicious, 
affectionate,  devoted,  faithful — who  had,  for  thirty-two  years,  shared 
my  every  thought,  hope,  fear,  wish,  sorrow,  joy — has  gone  to  her 
peaceful,  happy  home  !  And  I  am  alone  !  Death  had  long  been 
familiar  to  her  thoughts.  It  was  the  theme  of  her  daily  and  most 
solemn  meditations.  It  seemed  to  me  that  she  lived  but  to  die. 
Christ  was  ever  all  her  hope  and  all  her  trust. 

“She  loved  to  pray.  She  was  habitually  prayerful.  She  always 
joined  most  devoutly  in  the  public  prayers  of  the  sanctuary.  She 
prayed  much  in  secret.  No  matter  how  numerous  or  oppressive  her 
engagements  and  occupations,  she  found  time  every  day  for  retirement 
and  for  closet  devotions.  This,  too,  in  so  quiet  a  way,  that  it  might 
have  escaped  the  notice  and  knowledge  of  ordinary  observers,  and 
even  of  her  own  family,  had  they  been  indifferent  to  the  subject,  or 
inattentive  to  her  actions.  Many  an  hour  has  she  consecrated  to 
prayer,  during  the  silent  watches  of  the  night,  while  her  household 
was  hushed  in  sleep,  and  when  no  eye  but  the  Lord’s  beheld  her. 
Oh,  how  she  prayed  for  her  children,  for  her  husband,  for  all  people — 
and  for  herself,  as  a  poor,  needy,  helpless,  perishing  sinner!  Yes; 
she  ever  regarded  herself,  as  most  of  all,  a  debtor  to  the  cross,  and  to 
yol.  hi. — 5 


66 


A  SUPPLEMENTARY 


the  grace  of  Christ,  her  merciful  Saviour,  in  whom  she  humbly  trusted, 
and  through  whose  atoning  sacrifice,  we  may  confidently  hope,  she  has 
at  last  entered  upon  the  rest  which  remaineth  to  the  people  of  God. 

‘  Precious  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord  is  the  death  of  his  saints.  Blessed 
are  the  pure  in  heart;  for  they  shall  see  God.7  ‘Never  were  modest 
worth,  unaffected  piety,  and  every  domestic  virtue,  more  strongly  illus¬ 
trated  than  in  the  character  of  this  most  amiable  and  excellent  woman. 
Her  sweetness  of  temper,  simplicity  of  manners,  and  charitable  dispo¬ 
sition,  are  seldom  paralleled,  and  never  excelled.7 

‘“Come,  death,  shake  hands;  I’ll  kiss  thy  bands: 

’Tis  happiness  for  me  to  die. 

What!  dost  thou  think,  that  I  will  shrink? 

I’ll  go  to  immortality,’” 

But  this  will  be  sufficient  to  show  the  depth  and  tenderness  of  affec¬ 
tion  which  marked  the  character  of  Dr.  Lindsley  in  all  his  domestic 
and  social  relations.  As  he  approached  the  terminus  of  life,  these 
occasions  for  sympathy  were  multiplied  in  the  decease  of  several  of 
his  grandchildren,  of  whose  births  and  deaths  he  always  kept  a  careful 
record.  The  following  letter  will  serve  as  a  specimen  of  the  style  in 
which  he  was  accustomed  to  address  his  children  under  such  bereave¬ 
ments.  It  is  addressed  to  N.  Lawrence  and  Julia  Lindsley,  in  their 
home,  near  Lebanon,  Tennessee,  on  the  sudden  death  of  their  little 
boy,  Nathaniel  Lawrence,  at  the  age  of  five  years  and  five  months : — 

New  Albany,  June  24,  1852. 

My  Dear  Children: — We  are  grieved  and  distressed,  beyond  the 
power  of  language  to  express,  on  account  of  the  sudden  decease  of 
your  and  our  loved  and  lovely  little  boy.  I  can  say  nothing  to  alle¬ 
viate  the  sorrow,  or  to  mitigate  the  pain  inflicted  by  this  overwhelming 
dispensation  of  Divine  Providence.  I  can  only  weep  and  pray  with  you 
and  for  you.  “  The  Lord  gave  and  the  Lord  hath  taken  away ;  blessed 
be  the  name  of  the  Lord.77  “What  I  do,  thou  knowest  not  now,  but 
thou  shalt  know  hereafter.77  When  we  meet  the  smiling  cherub — 
redeemed,  sanctified,  happy,  blessed — in  the  Paradise  above,  we  shall 
learn  why  he  was  thus  early  removed,  and  why  our  most  precious 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OP  THE  AUTHOR. 


67 


treasures  are  laid  up  in  heaven  —  even  against  our  fondest  wishes. 
Shall  not  the  Judge  of  all  the  earth  do  right?  We  must  bow  sub¬ 
missive  to  his  will.  May  he  grant  us  grace  equal  to  our  trials,  and 
sufficient  for  our  final  triumph  over  every  besetting  sin  or  spiritual  foe. 

Your  affectionate  father, 

P.  LINDSLEY. 

And  here  we  may  add  another  passing  record  from  his  journal, 
which,  better  perhaps  than  any  formal  and  studied  portraiture,  illus¬ 
trates  his  character  and  feelings  in  the  relation  of  a  master: — 

“ September  17,  1846,  Thursday. — Our  good  and  faithful  servant, 
Hannah,  died  last  night — or  rather  very  early  this  morning.  She  has 
lived  with  us  ever  since  our  marriage.  She  was  so  much  attached  to 
her  mistress,  that  she  could  not  be  persuaded  to  accept  of  freedom, 
and  remain  in  New  Jersey  or  New  York.  She  and  her  mother  and 
sister  were  inherited  by  my  wife,  (they  and  several  others  having  be¬ 
longed  to  her  mother — all  made  free  except  Hannah,  who  refused.) 
Aged  between  fifty-seven  and  fifty-eight.  The  funeral  services  were 
performed  by  the  Bev.  Jeremiah  Bowman,  a  negro  Presbyterian  min¬ 
ister.  He  preached  a  good  sermon — sung  several  hymns — and  prayed 
twice  at  the  house  and  once  at  the  grave.” 

Thus,  from  a  few  touching  memorials,  penned  certainly  with  no 
thought  of  their  ever  being  used  for  such  a  purpose,  we  are  enabled 
to  discern  the  inmost  spirit  of  the  writer,  and  to  mark  that  deep  cur¬ 
rent  of  social  and  religious  emotion  which  was  ever  flowing  forth  in 
all  the  relations  of  life.  In  these  simple  records  we  see  the  true  index 
of  character  in  the  son,  the  husband,  the  father  and  the  master,  as 
ennobled,  refined  and  sanctified  by  Divine  grace. 

XI.  DECEASE  AT  NASHVILLE— TRIBUTES  OF  RESPECT. 

The  principal  incidents  of  Dr.  Lindsley’s  sudden  death  at  Nashville, 
in  1855,  while  in  attendance  there  as  a  member  of  the  General  Assem¬ 
bly  of  the  Church,  have  already  been  given  in  another  place.  Up  to 
Wednesday,  twenty-third  of  May,  he  had  been  in  his  usual  health,  and 
during  the  preceding  sessions  of  the  body  had  freely  participated  in 
the  debates- — his  last  address  having  reference  to  the  baptized  chil- 


68 


A  SUPPLEMENTARY 


dren  of  the  Church.  He  was  seized  with  illness  that  morning,  while 
in  conversation  with  his  children  at  the  breakfast  table,  and  imme¬ 
diately  passed  into  a  state  of  unconsciousness,  from  which  he  did  not 
recover.  He  lingered  till  one  o’clock  of  Friday,  twenty-fifth,  when  his 
spirit  passed  away. 

It  will  not  be  out  of  place  to  give  here  some  additional  particulars, 
taken  from  the  minutes  of  the  Assembly,  of  their  proceedings  during 
his  illness,  and  in  reference  to  his  death  and  funeral  services. 

After  the  reading  of  the  minutes  on  Wednesday,  Dr.  Krebs  an¬ 
nounced  to  the  Assembly  that  the  Rev.  Dr.  Lindsley,  who  partici¬ 
pated  in  the  deliberations  of  the  Assembly  yesterday,  lies  this  morning 
insensible,  stricken  with  apoplexy:  and  moved  that  the  Moderator  be 
requested  to  lead  the  General  Assembly  in  prayer  for  Dr.  Lindsley 
and  his  afflicted  family,  under  this  painful  and  sad  visitation.  This 
motion  was  unanimously  carried,  and  the  Moderator  complied  with 
the  request. 

Dr.  Lacy  offered  the  following  resolutions,  which  were  unani¬ 
mously  adopted,  viz.: — 

1.  Resolved,  That  the  General  Assembly  have  heard  of  the  sudden 
illness  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Lindsley,  a  member  of  this  body,  with  deep 
interest  and  sorrow. 

2.  Resolved,  That  the  Moderator  and  Dr.  Plummer  be  and  they 
are  hereby  requested  to  visit  Dr.  Lindsley  and  his  afflicted  family  at 
their  earliest  convenience,  and  assure  them  of  the  profound  sympathy 
of  the  Assembly  in  this  dispensation  of  Providence,  and  of  their 
earnest  prayer  for  his  recovery,  and  for  their  spiritual  support  and 
consolation. 

On  Friday  afternoon,  the  Moderator  announced  that  Dr.  Lindsley 
had  died  at  one  o’clock ;  whereupon,  it  was 

Resolved,  That  the  body  of  the  deceased  be  brought  to  the  church 
on  to-morrow  at  eight  o’clock,  and  that  the  General  Assembly  attend 
the  funeral  in  a  body. 

At  the  request  of  the  family,  this  arrangement  was  changed,  and 
the  funeral  postponed  till  Monday  morning. 

When  the  Assembly  met  on  Saturday  morning,  Dr.  Jacobus,  from 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OF  THE  AUTHOR. 


69 


the  Committee  of  Arrangements  for  the  funeral,  reported  the  following 
minute,  which  was  adopted,  viz.: — 

Whereas  it  has  pleased  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church  to  remove 
from  his  seat  in  this  Assembly  our  revered  father  and  beloved  copres¬ 
byter,  the  Rev.  Philip  Lindsley,  D.D.: 

This  Assembly  would  record,  with  deep  emotion,  the  dealing  of 
Divine  Providence  toward  this  body,  and  pray  that  it  may  be  blessed 
to  our  admonition  and  spiritual  edification.  “The  Fathers,  where  are 
they?  and  the  Prophets,  do  they  live  forever?” 

Our  honoured  and  endeared  father  died  in  the  midst  of  his  children, 
in  the  circle  of  his  early  friends  and  fellow-citizens,  and  in  the  arms  of 
his  beloved  church.  He  was  called,  as  he  could  have  wished,  in  the 
midst  of  active  labour;  found  at  his  post;  and  faithful  to  the  last. 
From  serving  this  General  Assembly,  he  was  transferred,  as  we  trust, 
to  his  blessed  seat  in  the  General  Assembly  and  Church  of  the  first¬ 
born  which  are  written  in  heaven.  The  suddenness  made  it,  to  him, 
only  the  more  of  a  translation.  He  walked  with  God,  and  he  was 
not — for  God  took  him. 

Full  of  years  and  full  of  labours — the  accomplished  scholar — the 
successful  educator — the  eminent  professor — the  able  ruler — the  sound 
divine  —  the  beloved  disciple  —  it  was  allowed  him,  according  to  the 
willingness  which  he  expressed  only  a  few  moments  before  the  fatal 
stroke,  to  die  here  and  now,  in  this  city  of  his  early  friendships,  among 
his  children  and  brethren  in  the  Lord. 

We  were  privileged  to  take  sweet  counsel  here  with  him.  His 
fraternal  and  faithful  words,  up  to  the  last,  in  this  body,  leave  his 
memory  fresh  and  fragrant,  as  is  fit.  It  is  the  pleasure  of  this  Assem¬ 
bly  to  attend  his  mortal  remains  to  the  tomb  in  confidence  of  his 
happy  transition,  and  of  his  glorious  resurrection.  Like  the  great 
Patriarch,  “after  he  had  served  his  generation  by  the  will  of  God,  he 
fell  asleep.” 

Resolved ,  That  this  Assembly  do  tender  to  the  bereaved  widow 
and  family  of  the  deceased  their  Christian  sympathies  and  earnest 
prayers;  and  that  the  Stated  Clerk  be  directed  to  furnish  them  with 
a  copy  of  this  action. 


10 


A  SUPPLEMENTARY 


The  Assembly  then  adjourned,  to  meet  on  Monday  next,  at  ten 
o’clock  a.m.,  for  business,  the  two  previous  hours  of  that  morning 
being  devoted  to  the  solemnities  arranged  for  the  funeral. 

Accordingly,  after  the  solemn  services  of  the  Sabbath,  the  Assembly 
met  at  eight  o’clock  on  Monday,  twenty-eighth,  to  attend  the  funeral. 
The  following  members  acted  as  pall-bearers:  Walter  Lowrie,  Dr. 
Patterson,  Dr.  Boardman,  Dr.  Thornwell,  Dr.  Krebs,  Dr.  Lacy,  Dr. 
Wines,  Dr.  Dumont,  Luke  Loomis,  Judge  Blake,  Judge  Fine  and 
Dr.  Plummer. 

The  exercises  of  the  deeply  impressive  occasion  were  as  follows : — • 

1.  Invocation  and  Singing — “How  blest  the  righteous  when  he 
dies,”  by  Bev.  Dr.  Edgar,  Pastor  of  the  First  Church,  Nashville. 

2.  Beading  of  Ninetieth  Psalm,  by  Bev.  F.  N.  Ewing,  of  Bloom¬ 
ington,  Illinois,  a  former  pupil. 

3.  Sketch  of  the  Life  and  Character  of  the  deceased,  by  Bev.  J.  M. 
Stevenson,  D.D.,  Pastor  of  the  family  at  New  Albany. 

4.  Address  by  Bev.  Dr.  Yan  Bensselaer,  Secretary  of  the  Board  of 
Education,  followed  by  Dr.  N.  L.  Bice,  the  Moderator. 

5.  Prayer  and  Singing,  by  Dr.  Lapsley,  Pastor  of  Second  Church, 
Nashville. 

6.  Benediction  by  the  Moderator. 

The  body  was  then  conveyed  to  the  tomb,  and  deposited  by  the  side 
of  its  kindred  dust,  in  the  Nashville  Cemetery. 

It  may  form  an  appropriate  close  to  the  present  memoir  to  add  a 
few  of  the  many  testimonials  and  tributes  of  respect,  elicited  by  his 
death.  We  have  no  sympathy  with  those  who  speak  disparagingly 
of  the  eulogium  of  the  dead.  There  is  no  act  of  man  more  becoming 
than  when  the  living  respect  and  revere  the  memory  of  the  dead — the 
virtuous,  pious,  gifted  dead.  It  is  a  part  of  that  influence  which  fol¬ 
lows  them,  and  by  which  they  still  speak.  It  is  an  incentive  to  virtue 
— a  noble  stimulus  to  exertion — held  out  to  all  the  young,  when  they 
see  that  the  great  and  good  are  not  forgotten,  but  held  in  honour  by 
those  who  survive  them.  It  is  the  homage  which  nature  pays  to  its 
benefactors  when  it  can  give  them  no  other  reward. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OF  THE  AUTHOR. 


U 


The  following  is  the  action  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  and  Alumni 
of  the  University. 

TRIBUTE  OF  RESPECT  TO  THE  MEMORY  OF  DR.  LINDSLEY. 

Pursuant  to  notice,  the  Trustees  and  Alumni  of  the  Nashville  Uni¬ 
versity  met  at  the  Law  Office  of  Russell  Houston,  Esq.,  to  adopt 
measures  indicative  of  their  profound  respect,  for  the  life  and  eminent 
services,  and  deep  regret,  at  the  melancholy  intelligence  of  the  death 
of  the  late  Dr.  Philip  Lindsley. 

Dr.  Felix  Robertson,  the  present  Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Trus¬ 
tees,  was  called  to  the  chair,  and  Michael  Yaughn,  Esq.,  appointed 

Secretary. 

/ 

Dr.  C.  K.  Winston  moved  that  Andrew  Ewing,  Capt.  R.  C.  Fos¬ 
ter  3d,  and  John  M.  Lea,  be  appointed  a  committee  to  present  reso¬ 
lutions  expressive  of  the  sense  of  the  meeting,  concerning  the  object 
for  which  it  was  convened,  which  motion  was  adopted. 

The  Committee  presented  the  following  Preamble  and  Resolutions, 
which  were  unanimously  adopted. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Philip  Lindsley,  formerly  a  citizen  of  Nashville,  and 
for  many  years  the  President  of  the  Nashville  University,  departed 
this  life  on  Friday,  twenty-fifth  instant,  at  the  residence  of  his  son-in- 
law  in  this  city.  To  do  justice  in  any  measure  to  the  life  and  charac¬ 
ter  of  the  eminent  deceased,  whether  considered  as  a  learned  theolo¬ 
gian,  a  man  of  letters,  or  a  worthy  citizen,  would  require  more  time 
thap  is  now  at  the  disposal  of  the  Committee.  Dr.  Lindsley  was  a 
native  of  New  Jersey,  and  a  graduate  of  Princeton  College.  Early 
after  his  graduation  he  was  elected  a  Professor  in  that  ancient  and 
celebrated  institution,  soon  promoted  to  the  Yice-Presidency,  and  be¬ 
fore  the  lapse  of  many  years,  so  thorough  a  scholar  had  he  become  by 
availing  himself  of  the  opportunities  afforded  by  his  position,  that  the 
distinguished  honour  of  the  presidency  was  offered  to  him. 

About  the  same  time,  the  Trustees  of  the  Nashville  University,  then 
Cumberland  College,  solicited  him  to  remove  to  the  West,  and  take 
charge  of  that  institution.  Contrary  to  the  wishes  of  numerous  friends 
in  his  native  State,  who  were  surprised  that  so  ripe  a  scholar  should 


72 


A  SUPPLEMENTARY 


decline  the  eminent  position  of  the  presidency  in  one  of  the  most  cele¬ 
brated  institutions  in  the  United  States,  he  preferred  coming  to  the 
West,  and  entered  upon  the  discharge  of  his  duties  as  President  of 
the  Nashville  University,  in  the  year  1825.  From  that  time  till  his 
voluntary  resignation  in  1850,  he  laboured  faithfully,  diligently  and 
successfully  to  advance  the  cause  of  education  in  Tennessee.  The 
fruits  of  his  twenty-six  years  tuition  are  properly  appreciated  and 
gratefully  acknowledged.  His  various  essays  and  discourses  on  edu¬ 
cation,  his  conversation,  his  lectures  at  the  University,  all  aided  much 
in  bringing  about  the  opinion  which  is  universal,  that  the  interests  of 
education  should  be  fostered  and  encouraged  by  the  State.  It  was  in 
the  lecture-room  surrounded  by  his  class,  that  Ur.  Lindsley  made  im¬ 
pressions,  which  through  the  class  operated  on  public  opinion.  Those 
who  have  had  the  good  fortune  to  listen  to  his  lectures  will  not  soon 
forget  the  words  of  wisdom  which  flowed  from  his  lips,  nor  the  pleas¬ 
ant,  courteous  and  dignified  manner  in  which  he  conveyed  instruc¬ 
tion. 

It  may  not,  perhaps,  be  going  too  far  to  say  that,  as  a  classical 
scholar,  Dr.  Lindsley  had  no  superior  in  the  United  States,  and  upon 
all  subjects  appertaining  to  science  and  letters,  his  knowledge  was  not 
only  full,  but  accurate.  The  respect  entertained  for  Dr.  Lindsley  was 
not  attributable,  however,  solely  to  his  intellectual  acquirements,  ex¬ 
tensive  as  they  were ;  he  was  emphatically  a  good  man  and  a  Chris¬ 
tian.  At  the  time  of  his  death,  occurring  in  this  city,  the  scene  of  his 

former  usefulness  and  labours,  during  his  attendance  on  the  General 

• 

Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  he  was  a  Professor  in  the 
Theological  Seminary  at  New  Albany.*  His  efforts  in  the  cause  of 
education  have  therefore  only  ended  with  the  limits  of  his  life.  A 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  an  ornament  to  the  ministry, 
he  was  catholic  in  his  feelings,  and  liberal  towards  all  denominations 
of  Christians,  and  it  was  a  matter  of  peculiar  gratification  to  the 
Trustees  of  the  Nashville  University,  that  during  his  long  services  as 
President,  that  institution,  founded  by  no  particular  denomination, 


*  He  had  resigned  that  position,  as  we  have  seen,  the  year  before. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OF  THE  AUTHOR. 


13 


was  entirely  free  from  all  sectarian  influence,  and  equally  liberal  to¬ 
wards  the  various  denominations  for  the  gratuitous  education  of  the 
allowed  number  of  young  men  for  the  ministry.  The  Committee,  in 
the  few  brief  moments  allotted  them,  can  say  no  more  of  the  great 
services  and  acquirements  of  the  distinguished  individual,  whose  death 
we  mourn ;  nor  in  this  community,  where  he  was  so  well  known,  need 
nis  name  and  fame  an  eulogy.  The  growing  sentiment  in  Tennessee  in 
favour  of  education,  is  his  monument.  The  Committee  submit  the 
following  resolutions : 

Resolved ,  That  in  the  death  of  the  late  Dr.  Lindsley,  while  the 
country  at  large  has  reason  to  deplore  the  loss  of  a  great  and  good 
man,  whose  lifetime  efforts  were  devoted  to  the  advancement  of  knowl¬ 
edge  and  religion,  the  Trustees  and  Alumni  of  the  Nashville  Univer¬ 
sity  most  deeply  deplore  the  loss  of  him,  the  prime  and  vigor  of  whose 
life  were  spent  earnestly  and  devotedly  in  their  service. 

Resolved ,  That  we  sympathize  with  the  afflicted  family  in  their  dis¬ 
tress  at  this  melancholy  dispensation  of  Providence. 

Resolved ,  That  we  attend  the  funeral  of  the  deceased,  and  wear  the 
usual  badge  of  mourning  for  thirty  days. 

On  motion,  it  was 

Resolved,  That  these  proceedings  be  published. 

FELIX  ROBERTSON  Pres’t. 

M.  Vaughn,  Sec’y. 

The  following  tribute  is  from  the  Republican  Banner  of  May  31, 
1855,  written,  we  presume,  by  the  Editor,  Allen  A.  Hall,  Esq.,  who 
had  been  conversant  with  his  history  and  work  at  Nashville  from  the 
beginning. 

REV.  PHILIP  LINDSLEY. 

Notwithstanding  the  tribute  from  another  quarter  to  the  memory  of 
this  truly  great  man,  which  has  already  appeared  in  our  columns,  it  is 
neither  inappropriate  nor  too  late  to  add  this  further  record  from  our 
personal  recollections  of  him.  It  will  be  conceded,  that  one  has  fallen 
among  us,  who  has  long  been  identified  with  the  highest  interests  of 
this  community,  and  who  had  done  perhaps  as  much  as  the  most 


n 


A  SUPPLEMENTARY 


active  to  promote  them.  When,  by  the  force  of  circumstances,  he 
was  removed  from  us  several  years  ago,  we  believe  that  absence  pro¬ 
duced  no  estrangement,  and  that  his  heart  was  still  yearning  for  the 
scene  of  his  earlier  and  more  vigorous  labours.  If  duty  called  him 
elsewhere,  and  this  could  no  longer  be  the  theatre  of  his  life,  his  fading 
eye  was  turning  ever  hitherward,  as  to  the  chosen  place  of  its  last 
slumber.  And  now,  like  an  honest  husbandman,  he  has  ceased  from 
his  labour,  and  his  sheaves  lie  about  him. 

Dr.  Lindsley  had  little  to  do  on  earth  which  he  had  not  accom¬ 
plished,  and  he  went  down  to  death  full  of  testimonials  and  ripened 
with  the  experience  of  this  world.  A  student  in  his  earliest  boyhood, 
he  never  relaxed  his  devotion  to  the  cause  of  Letters,  but  the  fire  of 
this  enthusiasm  seemed  to  become  more  intense,  as  the  flame  of  life 
grew  feebler  toward  its  end.  The  influence  of  his  scholarship  has 
been  deeply  impressed  upon  the  learning  of  the  entire  country.  No 
man  ever  more  completely  mastered  whatever  branch  of  science  he 
undertook,  and  there  were  but  few  subjects,  which  escaped  the  atten¬ 
tion  of  his  comprehensive  genius.  He  possessed  an  intellect  quick  to 
acquire,  and  a  memory  tenacious  of  its  acquisitions.  Singularly 
enough,  however,  he  was  as  remarkable  for  the  accuracy  of  his  schol¬ 
arship,  as  for  the  variety  and  comprehensiveness  of  his  learning.  As 
a  classical  scholar,  we  probably  risk  nothing  in  the  assertion,  that  he 
had  no  superior  in  America.  He  dealt  with  the  facts  and  the  phi¬ 
losophy  of  history  as  with  household  words,  while  he  had  made 
Theology  and  Government  the  subject  of  special  study.  In  fact,  we 
are  acquainted  with  few  branches  of  knowledge,  among  which  may  be 
included  some  of  the  natural  and  practical  sciences,  to  which  he  had 
not  devoted  himself  with  the  zeal  of  an  enthusiast. 

Dr.  Lindsley  wielded  a  pen  of  power,  and  it  was  well  for  the  world 
that  he  had  a  chastened  judgment  and  a  benevolent  heart  to  control 
its  inspiration.  His  youthful  ambition  and  desire  to  do  good  instinct¬ 
ively  attracted  him  to  the  great  Southwest,  when  it  was  yet  compar¬ 
atively  a  wilderness.  His  prophetic  eye  foresaw  here  a  theatre  at  once 
large  enough  and  susceptible  enough  for  the  activity  of  the  most  en¬ 
larged  benevolence  and  lofty  ambition.  He  threw  himself  nobly  into 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OF  THE  AUTHOR. 


15 


the  van  of  the  great  army  of  civilization,  in  its  southward  march,  and 
he  has  not  failed  to  impress  himself  upon  the  great  region  which  he 
adopted.  His  pen  has  been  as  a  tongue  of  flame,  in  its  advocacy  of 
the  cause  and  elevation  of  popular  education.  Public  sentiment  has 
long  been  thoroughly  permeated  by  many  of  his  liberal  ideas,  and  the 
public  may  long  since  have  forgotten  the  source  from  which  those 
ideas  were  borrowed :  but  it  was  enough  for  the  genius  of  such  a  man 
to  achieve  good,  let  the  glory  rest  where  it  might. 

We  cherish  the  hope,  that  the  world  will  yet  be  enriched  by  the 
production  of  many  posthumous  volumes  from  the  pen  of  this  truly 
great  man. 

Dr.  Lindsley  was  President  of  the  University  of  Nashville  during  a 
period  of  twenty-five  years.  The  Alumuiof  that  venerable  institution, 
at  least,  will  understand  with  what  spirit  of  enthusiasm  and  self-sacri¬ 
fice  he  devoted  himself  to  its  success.  lie  was  often  tempted  by  the 
most  brilliant  inducements  to  separate  himself  from  its  fluctuating 
prospects  and  existence.  For  this  office  he  declined  the  presidency  of 
not  a  few  of  the  first  institutions  in  the  Union.  But  he  had  early 
dedicated  his  talents  to  the  building  up  of  a  genuine  literature  in  the 
great  Southwest,  and  he  was  not  easily  to  be  swerved  from  this 
leading  purpose  of  his  life.  The  fruits  of  his  labours  in  this  office  are 
to  be  seen  in  the  long  list  of  gifted  and  eminent  Alumni,  who  are  ever 
willing  to  attribute  much  of  their  success  to  his  early  counsel  and  dis¬ 
cipline.  Dr.  Lindsley  possessed,  to  an  extent  beyond  most  men,  that 
happy  and  peculiar  faculty  of  inspiring  the  youthful  mind  with  a  gene¬ 
rous  and  pure  ambition,  which  labours  for  the  good  of  the  race,  at  the 
same  time  that  it  thirsts  for  personal  advancement. 

In  the  social  circle  he  was  much  loved  where  he  was  at  all  under¬ 
stood.  A  student  by  profession,  his  habits  did  not  suit  the  active 
habits  of  the  world,  and  men  were  liable  to  mistake  the  retiring 
manner  of  the  cloister  for  the  frigid  selfishness  of  the  exclusive.  Dr. 
Lindsley  was  warm  and  fascinating  in  the  circle  of  his  friends,  and  no 
man  carried  more  genuine  sunshine  with  him,  wherever  he  was  truly 
known. 

But  we  have  already  too  greatly  protracted  this  hasty  notice.  The 


76 


A  SUPPLEMENTARY 


deceased  needs  no  tribute  from  us ;  liis  fame  rests  with  a  grateful  com¬ 
munity,  and  it  is  bis  highest  praise  to  say,  that  his  best  and  surest 
monument  is  to  be  found  in  the  memory  of  all  who  rightly  knew  him. 

Dr.  Van  Rensselaer,  in  his  most  impressive  address  before  the 
Assembly,  in  the  funeral  services,  made  the  following  remarks: — 

“He  accepted  the  presidency  of  the  University  of  Nashville  in 
1824,  and  for  a  quarter  of  a  century  devoted  his  life  to  the  institu¬ 
tion.  In  the  midst  of  many  difficulties  and  disadvantages,  he  per¬ 
severed  :  and  the  presidency  of  an  institution,  which  was  so  much 
indebted  to  the  labours  of  the  father,  has  descended,  as  the  free  gift 
of  the  people,  to  a  son ;  and  may  the  father’s  work  and  the  son’s 
work  be  carried  forward,  in  providence,  until  this  goodly  city  and  this 
goodly  State  shall  reap  the  blessings  of  a  Christian  University,  on , 
whose  towers  the  name  of  Lindsley  shall  be  immortal ! 

“It  is  proper  to  remark  here,  that  Dr.  Lindsley  served  God  in 
whatever  he  undertook.  His  piety  was  deep,  cheerful,  unalfected. 
Whether  he  lived,  he  lived  unto  the  Lord ;  and  whether  he  died,  he 
died  unto  the  Lord ;  so  that,  whether  living  or  dying,  he  was  the 
Lord’s.  In  social  life  he  pre-eminently  shone.  His  heart  was  affec¬ 
tionate  and  easily  won.  His  conversational  powers  were  exuberant. 
There  was  a  fund  of  anecdote,  of  information,  of  personal  reminiscence, 
from  which  he  drew  with  a  prodigality  that  never  exhausted  it.  His 
manners  were  bland  and  courteous.  After  my  first  interview  with 
him,  in  this  city,  nine  years  ago,  I  thought,  and  still  think,  that  I 
never  saw  a  more  charming  specimen  of  a  Christian  gentleman,  min¬ 
ister  and  scholar.  His  labours  are  over.  His  benignant  face  will 
never  here  kindle  again  with  a  smile,  nor  will  his  voice  ever  again  be 
heard  in  our  Assembly.  His  last  address  was  in  reference  to  the  bap¬ 
tized  children  of  the  church.  God  had  no  more  work  for  him  to  do. 
‘Blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord.’” 

It  would  be  easy,  both  from  his  private  correspondence  and  the 
newspapers  of  the  day,  to  multiply  testimonials  of  his  ability  and  suc¬ 
cess  during  the  whole  period  of  his  presidency.  He  lived  in  a  com- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OF  THE  AUTHOR.  7? 

paratively  new  country,  where  some  of  course  could  not  fully  compre¬ 
hend  what  he  was,  or  what  he  'was  attempting  to  do  for  them.  But 
he  did  not  live  unknown,  nor  die  unappreciated,  either  at  home  or 
abroad.  We  subjoin  a  few  notices  indicative  of  this  appreciation. 
The  following  is  from  a  Louisville  (Kentucky)  paper  of  1840,  written, 
if  we  mistake  not,  by  an  eminent  medical  professor  there - 

“Dr.  Lindsley  has  presided  over  the  University  of  Nashville  for 
nearly  fifteen  years,  and  has  obtained  for  it  not  only  a  new  but  a  great 
name.  He  is  one  of  the  most  gifted  and  learned  of  all  our  writers 
and  teachers.  You  say  at  once,  on  meeting  him,  that  he  is  one  of 
nature’s  great  men — inevitably  great — but  improved  by  study  and  art. 
He  has  a  brow  to  grasp  all  sciences,  and  the  field  over  which  he  has 
travelled  is  a  very  extended  one.  He  is  a  deep,  original,  independent 
thinker,  and  comes  down  upon  his  subject  like  a  strong  man  wielding 
a  flail.  But  with  all  this  vigour  he  has  taste.  His  mind  has  all  the 
polish  which  long  familiarity  with  the  great  masters  of  ancient  elo¬ 
quence  and  poetry  could  give,  and  his  style  is  as  chaste  as  it  is  terse 
and  energetic.” 

In  his  correspondence  of  1833,  wre  find  a  letter  from  Hon.  James  K. 
Paulding,  thanking  him  for  a  pamphlet  just  published,  entitled  “  The 
Cause  of  the  Farmers  and  the  University  of  Tennessee,”  consisting  of 
two  annual  addresses  delivered  before  the  University.  In  the  letter 
he  says :  “It  is  long  since  I  have  read  anything  more  eloquent  in  lan¬ 
guage,  or  more  conclusive  in  argument;  and  nothing  surprised  and 
delighted  me  more  than  the  novel  manner  in  wThich  you  have  illus¬ 
trated  an  old  subject.”  Accompanying  the  letter  is  a  most  genial 
critique  on  the  pamphlet,  which  the  writer  had  published  in  one  of 
the  Eastern  papers,  from  which  we  take  a  few  sentences : — 

“The  Discourses  of  President  Lindsley  should  be  read  by  every 
man  in  the  United  States.  We  do  not  mean  by  scholars  alone,  but 
most  especially  and  emphatically  by  the  respectable  farmers  and  me¬ 
chanics  of  this  country,  who  are  too  apt  to  suppose  that  taxes  and 
donations  for  colleges  and  universities  constitute  a  burden  without  a 
benefit ;  at  least  any  benefit  of  which  they  are  likely  to  partake.  He 
traces  the  stream  of  intellectual  fertility  in  all  its  beautiful  meander- 


78  A  SUPPLEMENTARY  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OP  THE  AUTHOR. 

ings,  and  shows,  that  it  is  not  alone  those  who  reside  at  its  source 
who  partake  in  the  riches  it  diffuses  all  around,  but  that  its  blessings 
pervade  the  whole  land,  and  offer  themselves  spontaneously  to  all  who 
choose  to  come  and  taste  ‘the  waters  of  life.’ 

“Indeed,  throughout  the  whole  of  these  Discourses  is  diffused  a 
glow  of  earnest  eloquence,  a  generous  spirit  of  chivalry  in  defence  of 
science  and  learning,  and  a  power  of  enforcing  his  sentiments,  most 
highly  honourable  to  the  zeal  and  talents  of  President  Lindsley.  We 
scarcely  ever  recollect  seeing  a  more  powerful  vindication  of  science 
and  learning,  or  more  conclusive  arguments  in  favour  of  their  universal 
diffusion.” 

One  more  notice  shall  suffice.  It  is  from  a  recent  number  of  the 

North  American  Beview: — 

“Of  the  intellectual  fathers  of  the  generation  now  on  the  stage, 
Dr.  Philip  Lindsley  was  one  of  the  most  eminent,  useful  and  inde¬ 
fatigable  in  life,  and  his  name  will  be  held  in  deserved  honour  in 
coming  years.  In  1812  he  became  Senior  Tutor,  and  in  1813  Pro¬ 
fessor  of  Languages,  in  the  College  of  New  Jersey.  His  learning  and 
abilities  as  an  instructor  had  now  become  widely  known;  and  from 
his  thirty-first  year,  until  the  impossibility  of  inducing  him  to  change 
his  sphere  had  been  thoroughly  ascertained,  he  was  in  receipt  of  fre¬ 
quent  invitations  to  honourable  appointments,  to  an  extent  perhaps 
unparalleled  in  the  collegiate  history  of  our  country.” 

After  enumerating  these  appointments,  the  writer  says : — 

“When  the  aggregate  of  learned  judgment,  represented  by  the 
action  of  so  many  boards  of  trustees,  is  for  a  moment  appreciated, 
we  shall  be  justified  in  saying,  that  the  abilities  and  personal  charac¬ 
teristics  of  no  man  who  ever  lived  among  us  have  received  a  more 
weighty  indorsement.  All  literary  men,  especially  all  educators,  there¬ 
fore,  will  feel  a  lively  interest  in  an  attentive  examination  of  the 
suggestions  of  such  a  mind.” 


THE  PRIMITIVE  STATE  OF  MANKIND. 


[COLLEGE  OF  NEW  JERSEY,  1820-1821.] 


THE  PRIMITIVE  STATE  OF  MANKIND. 


AN  ATTEMPT  TO  PROVE  THAT  THE  ORIGINAL  OR  MOST  ANCIENT  CONDITION  OF  THE 
HUMAN  FAMILY  WAS  CIVILIZED  AND  NOT  SAVAGE.* 


Few  subjects  have  given  rise  to  more  crude  and 
unpliilosophical  speculation  than  the  primeval  state  of 
mankind.  That  state  is  universally  represented  to  have 
been,  either  comparatively  rude  and  barbarous,  or  abso¬ 
lutely  wild  and  savage.  Almost  the  whole  of  our  read¬ 
ing,  whether  of  history,  poetry  or  philosophy,  has  a 
tendency  to  create  and  to  confirm  this  prejudice.  So 
that  we  generally  take  the  fact  for  granted  without  any 
investigation ;  and  are  fully  persuaded  of  it  before  we 
condescend  to  canvass  the  logic  by  which  it  is  so  elabo¬ 
rately  supported  by  its  numerous  advocates.  That  the 
Greek  and  Roman  sophists  should  have  entertained  such 
a  notion,  or  that  the  ignorant  and  self-sufficient  free¬ 
thinker  of  modern  times  should  be  no  wiser,  is  not 
greatly  to  be  wondered  at.  But  that  any  enlightened 
Christian, — much  more,  that  a  Christian  philosopher  or 
theologian  should  be  found  labouring  in  behalf  of  the 

*  These  articles  contain  the  sum  or  outline  of  the  argument  fully 
enforced  and  illustrated  in  a  course  of  lectures  on  the  Arts,  Science 
and  Literature  of  Antiquity,  delivered  to  a  volunteer  class  in  the 
College  of  New  Jersey,  during  the  winter  session  of  1820-1821. 

vol.  hi. — 6  (81) 


82 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


same  doctrine,  is  truly  matter  of  astonishment  and 
humiliation. 

The  pride  of  system  frequently  leads  very  ingenious 
men  into  extravagancies  on  this,  as  upon  other  subjects. 
It  is  difficult,  indeed,  to  avoid  extremes  when  we  enlist 
our  feelings,  as  well  as  our  reason,  in  favour  of  any 
theory.  But  here  we  are  peculiarly  liable  to  err.  Na¬ 
ture  herself,  in  all  her  operations,  utters  a  language  and 
exhibits  facts  calculated  to  mislead  us.  All  animals, 
with  which  we  are  acquainted,  commence  their  existence 
in  a  comparatively  weak  and  helpless  condition.  Every¬ 
thing  in  the  vegetable  kingdom  is  subject  to  a  similar 
law.  The  stateliest  oak  in  the  forest  has  been  an  em¬ 
bryo  in  the  acorn.  The  lion  and  the  elephant  might 
once  have  been  crushed  beneath  the  feeblest  hand. 
Every  man  now  living  has  been  an  infant;  and  whether 
the  inmate  of  a  palace  or  a  cottage,  he  was  once  a  debtor 
to  the  anxious  and  constant  care  of  others  for  the  preser¬ 
vation  of  his  life,  and  to  their  instruction  for  the  ele¬ 
ments  of  whatever  knowledge  he  possesses.  The  rule 
is  universal.  It  has  no  exceptions.  It  is  certain  even, 
that  no  mortal  would  ever  speak,  or  contrive  a  language, 
were  he  to  receive  no  assistance  from  others;  or  were  he 
to  be  totally  excluded  from  social  intercourse,  so  as  never 
to  have  it  in  his  power  to  imitate  articulate  sounds. 

Thus,  then,  from  analogy,  we  are  led  to  contemplate 
the  primitive  state  of  man  as  similar  to  that  of  infancy. 
We  are  prone  to  regard  the  beginnings  of  all  things  as 
small,  and  feeble,  and  rude.  We  always  suppose  time  to 
be  necessary  to  impart  vigour,  and  beauty,  and  magni- 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


83 


tucle,  and  maturity.  States  and  empires  have  grown  up 
to  power  and  splendour  through  years  of  discipline,  and 
effort,  and  struggle.  Individuals  make  great  literary  and 
scientific  attainments  in  the  same  manner.  And  can  it 
be  presumed  that  what  is  now  true  of  every  man,  and 
of  every  association  of  men,  was  not  true  of  him  in  his 
original  or  first  condition? 

Admitting  that  all  men  are  descended  from  a  common 
ancestry,  why  should  we  suppose  that  the  first  families 
were  wiser  and  more  ingenious,  more  improved  and  cul¬ 
tivated,  than  millions  of  their  posterity  are,  at  this 
moment,  known  to  be?  Have  not  men  been  found  in 
a  savage  state  in  every  age  of  the  world,  to  which 
authentic  history  extends  ?  How  could  men  lose  a 
knowledge  of  the  arts — especially  of  the  useful  arts — - 
and  degenerate  into  savages,  if  their  forefathers  had 
ever  been  civilized  and  enlightened? 

These  and  many  similar  inquiries  may,  we  think,  be 
satisfactorily  answered,  without  at  all  countenancing  the 
hypothesis  upon  which  they  have  been  grounded. 

The  savage  state  was  not  the  primeval  state  of  man. 
If  it  had  been,  man  would  have  remained  a  savage  to 
this  day.  There  is  no  proof  that  any  nation,  or  society, 
or  tribe,  or  family,  or  individual  has  ever  advanced  to  a 
state  of  civilization  without  the  aid  and  instruction  of 
those  who  were  previously  civilized.  There  is  abundant 
proof  to  the  contrary. 

We  propose  to  establish  and  to  illustrate  the  following 
proposition,  namely : — 

Man  has  ever  been  a  civilized  being.  Such  was  he 


84 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


created,  and  such  do  we  find  him  in  every  age.*  The 
stream  of  civilization  can  be  traced  back  from  one  period 
and  country  and  nation  to  another,  till  we  arrive  at  the 
original  fountain  in  that  paradise  of  beauty  and  inno¬ 
cence  in  which  man  first  awoke  to  the  praises  of  his 
Maker  and  to  the  healthful  exercise  of  all  his  faculties. 

Reason,  Revelation  and  History  confirm  this  view  of 
the  subject. 

I.  Reason. — Does  not  reason  tell  us  that  man  must 
have  been  created,  at  some  period  or  other,  by  an 
almighty,  independent,  all-wise  and  beneficent  Deity? 
If  so — and  every  other  hypothesis  would  land  us  in 
atheism  and  absurdity — does  not  reason  intimate  that 
a  Creator,  infinitely  wise,  good  and  powerful,  would,  at 
the  first,  have  endowed  man  with  all  the  faculties,  moral, 
intellectual  and  corporeal,  in  such  a  state  of  maturity, 
and  with  such  an  aptitude  to  every  exercise  and  pur¬ 
suit  and  attainment,  as  his  distinguished  rank  among 
the  creatures  of  God,  and  his  high  destiny  seemed  to 
require  ? 

Was  man  designed  to  be  the  representative  of  Deity 
in  this  lower  world — the  lord  of  creation — the  absolute 
sovereign  over  all  the  other  animals — the  undisputed 
master  of  all  the  riches  upon  the  earth:  and  can  it  be 
that  he  should  have  been  ushered  into  the  midst  of  all 
this  vast  and  varied  inheritance,  without  one  qualifica- 

*  Not  everywhere,  indeed;  but  somewhere — in  some  part  of  the 
world.  So  that  there  never  has  been  a  period  of  time,  however  brief, 
when  civilized  man  could  nowhere  be  found  upon  the  earth. 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


85 


tion  for  its  proper  management  or  enjoyment? — in  fact, 
unconscious  of  what  he  was,  or  of  what  he  was  destined 
to  become? — without  language,  and  ignorant  that  he  pos¬ 
sessed  the  capacity  of  inventing  or  acquiring  any? — with¬ 
out  arts,  and  with  fewer  instincts  than  other  animals? — - 
in  a  word,  a  mere  brute,  and  of  the  meanest,  most  mis¬ 
erable,  and  most  helpless  order?  Would  not  a  constant 
miracle  have  been  necessary  for  the  protection  and  sus¬ 
tenance  of  such  a  creature?  Does  reason  then  furnish 
any  plausible  support  to  such  a  theory?  Does  she  not 
at  once  pronounce  it  incredible— impossible? 

We  are  aware  that  we  have  presented,  what  may  be 
thought,  an  extreme  case;  —  that  we  have  supposed  a 
state  of  savageness,  or  rather  of  brutality,  much  worse 
than  is  generally  contended  for.  It  may  be  worse  than 
what  would  suit  the  notions  of  some ;  but  not  so  bad 
but  that  we  may  readily  find  for  it  many  ingenious  and 
confident  advocates. 

Diodorus  Siculus,  in  the  beginning  of  his  history,  says 
that  men  at  first  lived  dispersed  like  the  beasts,  in  caves 
and  woods,  and  subsisted  upon  the  natural  productions 
of  the  earth;  that  they  had  no  use  of  speech,  and  uttered 
only  inarticulate  cries;  but  that  having  herded  together 
from  fear  of  the  wild  beasts,  they  invented  a  language, 
and  imposed  names  upon  things.  ( Diod .,  lib.  i.  cap.  8.) 

The  Epicureans,  it  is  well  known,  held  the  same  doc¬ 
trine.  Lucretius,  a  distinguished  poet  and  philosopher 
of  this  famous  school,  in  his  fifth  book,  De  Rerum  Nature :, 
describes  the  primitive  state  of  our  race  very  minutely 
and  accurately,  according  to  the  system  of  his  sect. 


86 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


After  telling  us  how  men  lived  in  the  woods  and  mount¬ 
ains,  without  the  use  of  fire,  he  adds : — 

“Nec  commune  bonum  poterant  spectare,  nec  ullis 
Moribus  inter  se  scibant,  nec  legibus  uti. 

Quod  cuique  obtulerat  prsedm  fortuna,  ferebat, 

Sponte  sua,  sibi  quisque  valere  et  vivere  doctus.” 

After  which,  he  proceeds  to  relate  how  men  associated 
together,  which  he  ascribes  chiefly  to  the  fear  of  wild 
beasts,  and  how  they  built  huts,  discovered  the  use  of 
fire,  and  reared  families.  Even  this,  however,  would  not 
have  sufficed  to  the  ultimate  preservation  of  the  race: — 

“At  varios  linguae  sonitus  Natura  subegit 
Mittere,  et  Utilitas  expressit  nomina  rerum.” 

So  that,  according  to  Lucretius,  language  was  invented 
by  men,  after  they  had  associated  together,  and  made 
some  progress  towards  civilization. 

This  system  appears  to  have  been  very  popular  at 
Rome,  during  the  brightest  period  of  her  literature  and 
philosophy.  Horace,  one  of  the  best  of  her  poets,  and 
reputed  a  philosopher  of  no  ordinary  character,  and  be¬ 
longing  to  the  same  school  with  Lucretius,  has  these 
remarkable  lines: — 

“  Cum  prorepserunt  primis  animalia  terris, 

Mutum  et  turpe  pecus,  glaudem  atque  cubilia  propter, 
Unguibus  et  pugnis,  dein  fustibus,  atque  ita  porro 
Pugnabant  armis,  quse  post  fabricaverat  usus ; 

Donee  verba,  quibus  voces  sensusque  notarent, 

Nominaque  invenere  :  dehinc  absistere  bello, 

Oppida  cceperunt  munire,  et  ponere  leges, 

Ne  quis  fur  esset,  neu  latro,  neu  quis  adulter.” 

Sat.  3,  lib.  i. 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


87 


And  Cicero  (De  Inventione  Rhetorica ,  lib.  i.  c.  2)  asserts 
the  same  doctrine:  “Nam  fuit  quoddam  tempus,  cum  in 
agris  homines  passim  bestiarum  modo  vagabantur,  et  sibi 
victu  ferino  vitam  propagabant;  nec  ratione  aniini  quid- 
quam,  sed  pleraque  viribus  corporis  administrabant.  Non- 
dum  divinse  religionis,  non  humani  officii  ratio  colebatur: 
nemo  nuptias  viderat  legitimas :  non  certos  quisquam  in- 
spexerat  liberos:  non  jus  eequabile  quid  utilitatis  haberet, 
acceperat.”  Again,  (De  Legibus ,  lib.  2,  cap.  14,)  speaking 
of  the  Eleusinian  mysteries,  he  says:  “Nam  mihi  cum 
multa  eximia  divinaque  videntur  Athenae  turn  peperisse, 
atque  in  vita  hominum  attulisse,  turn  nihil  melius  illis 
mysteriis,  quibus  ex  agresti  immanique  vita  exculti  ad 
humanitatem,  et  mitigati  sumus.” 

Thus,  also,  Juvenal: — 

*  *  *  *  “  Mundi 
Principio  indulsit  communis  conditor  illis 
Tantnm  animas,  nobis  animum  quoque ;  mutuus  ut  nos 
Affectus  petere  auxilium,  et  prsestare  juberet, 

Dispersos  trahere  in  populum,  migrare  vetusto 
De  nemore,  et  proavis  habitatas  linquere  sylvas 
JEdificare  domos,  laribus  conjungere  nostris 
Tectum  aliud,  tutos  vicino  limine  somnos 
Ut  collata  daret  fiducia;  protegere  armis 
Lapsum,  aut  ingenti  nutantem  vulnere  civem : 

Communi  dare  signa  tuba  defendier  isdem 
Turribus,  atque  una  portarum  clave  teneri.” 

Sat.  15,  v.  147,  etc. 

Nor  is  his  account  of  the  golden  age  much  more  flat¬ 
tering.  (See  Satire  6,  at  the  beginning,  etc.) 

11  Credo  pudicitiam  Saturno  rege  moratam 
In  terris,  visamque  diu ;  cum  frigida  parvas 
Praeberet  spelunca  domos,  ignemque,  Laremque, 

Et  pecus,  et  dominos  communi  clauderet  umbra : 


88 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


Sylvestrem  montana  torum  cum  sterneret  uxor 
Frondibus  et  culmo,  Yicinarnmque  ferarum 
Pellibus :  haud  similis  tibi,  Cynthia,  nee  tibi,  cujus 
Turbavit  nitidos  extinctus  passer  ocellos  : 

Sed  potanda  ferens  infantibus  ubera  magnis, 

Et  srnpe  horridior  glandem  ructante  marito.” 

It  is  unnecessary  to  quote  many  authorities  on  this 
subject.  The  truth  is,  that  a  similar  train  of  sentiment 
seems  to  pervade  the  philosophy  and  the  mythology  of 
the  classic  ages.  We  meet  with  it  in  the  theology  of  the 
early  Christian  fathers.  And  among  modern  writers, 
whether  Christian  or  infidel,  it  would  be  difficult  to  enu¬ 
merate  all  who  have  professedly  or  incidentally  advo¬ 
cated  or  countenanced  the  same  system.  “The  greater 
part  of  modern  philosophers  (says  one  of  them)  have 
declared  for  the  original  savageism  of  men.”* 


*  As  specimens  of  the  several  classes  of  authors  who  have,  in  their 
various  works,  insinuated  or  assumed  or  distinctly  enunciated  the  same 
doctrine,  the  following  names  may  be  cited,  viz.,  Hobbes,  Rousseau, 
Hume,  Condorcet,  Buffon,  Kaimes,  White,  Robertson,  Gillies,  Shaftes¬ 
bury,  Russell,  Yoltaire,  Raynal,  Millot,  Astle,  Darwin,  Condillac,  Adam 
Smith,  Gibbon,  Maupertuis,  Michaelis,  Yolney,  Tytler,  Priestley,  Mal¬ 
let,  Heeren,  Klaproth,  Ferguson.  See,  more  especially,  Goguet’s 
“Origin  of  Laws ,  Arts  and  Sciences ,  and  their  Progress  among  the 
most  Ancient  Nations Gebelin’s  “Monde  Primitif  analyse  et  com¬ 
pare  avec  Le  Monde  Moderne and  that  most  ingenious  of  all  philo¬ 
logical  romances,  the  “History  of  the  European  Languages ,”  by  the 
late  Alexander  Murray,  D.D.,  Professor  of  Hebrew,  etc.  in  the  Uni¬ 
versity  of  Edinburgh.  The  whole  current  of  our  periodical  literature 
is  in  a  similar  vein.  Thus,  in  the  first  volume  of  the  Classical  Journal, 
(page  41,)  the  late  Professor  R.  Scott,  of  Aberdeen,  treating  “Of  the 
Origin  and  Progress  of  Language  and  Writing f  commences  a  para¬ 
graph  as  follows :  “As  language  must  at  first  have  been  the  invention 
of  rude  and  unenlightened  men,  very  little  raised  above  the  state  of 
barbarism,  it  may  appear  to  some  of  my  readers  very  difficult  to 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


89 


Passing,  therefore,  a  multitude  of  names,  we  proceed 
to  pay  our  respects  to  its  most  distinguished  champion 
among  the  philosophers  of  the  last  century.  In  that 
very  learned,  elaborate,  and,  in  many  respects,  ingenious 
treatise,  on  “The  Origin  and  Progress  of  Language,”  by 
the  late  celebrated  J ames  Burnett,  afterwards  Lord  Mon- 
boddo,  of  Scotland,  we  have  a  complete  development  of 
the  old  Epicurean  theory,  in  all  its  most  repulsive  feat¬ 
ures.  The  learned  author  intended  no  caricature,  but  a 
beautiful  and  finished  picture.  He  was  an  enthusiast  in 
the  cause;  but  yet  cool,  collected,  and  persevering  in  his 
investigations  of  all  the  stores  of  ancient  and  modern 
learning,  and  of  all  the  facts  with  which  he  could  become 
acquainted.  It  is  true,  that,  like  most  other  honest,  can¬ 
did,  unprejudiced  inquirers  after  truth,  he  set  out  upon 
his  researches,  or  voyage  of  discovery,  with  his  mind 
made  up — with  his  system  already  formed;  —  and,  of 
course,  he  readily  enough  met  with  materials  adapted 
to  his  purpose,  quite  sufficient  to  eke  out  a  very  plausi¬ 
ble  case ;  and,  in  his  own  view  at  least,  to  operate  perfect 
conviction  upon  all  the  ethereal  spirits  capable  of  compre¬ 
hending  him.  But,  let  the  philosopher  speak  for  him¬ 
self  :  “  I  cannot  doubt  (says  he)  but  that  I  shall  convince 
every  one  who  will  think  it  worth  his  while  to  read  what 
follows,  that  articulation  is  altogether  the  work  of  art,  at 
least  of  a  habit  acquired  by  custom  and  exercise,  and 
that  we  are  truly  by  nature  the  mutum  jpeeus ,  the  mute 

comprehend  how  such  men  should  have  been  capable  of  exercising 
that  degree  of  abstraction,  which  the  formation  of  its  mere  elements 
implies.” 


90 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


herd,  that  Horace  makes  us  to  be.  This,  I  think,  I 
am  able  to  prove,  both  from  theory  and  facts.”  (Yol.  i. 
p.  185.) 

We  shall  not  accompany  him  through  his  curious  de¬ 
tails  of  facts,  derived  from  ancient  historians  and  from 
modern  voyagers  and  travellers;  the  fisl^eaters ,  the  wood- 
eaters^  the  insensibles  of  Diodorus  Siculus;  the  Troglodytes 
of  Herodotus;  the  Bormans  of  Leo  Africanus;  and  the 
thousands  of  brutish  hordes  of  savages  and  cannibals, 
reported  to  have  existed  or  as  still  existing  in  America, 
in  Africa,  in  New  Holland,  and  in  the  islands  of  the 
great  Pacific  Ocean:  all  of  which  the  author  carefully 
marshals  and  arrays  in  support  of  his  theory.  He  avails 
himself  too,  with  great  skill,  of  the  opinions  of  eminent 
writers,  ancient  and  modern,  whenever  they  seemed  to 
favour  his  own.  We  say  seemed ;  for  he  sometimes  ap¬ 
pears  to  have  decided  rather  hastily,  or  he  could  never 
have  dragged  Plato  and  Warburton  into  his  ranks; — 
men  who,  though  they  did  not  entertain,  what  we 
deem,  orthodox  sentiments  on  this  subject,  yet  differed 
widely  from  his  Lordship  in  the  main  features  of  his 
scheme. 

After  thus  citing  a  host  of  facts  and  authorities,  to 
prove  that  men  are  allied  to  the  Simian  tribes — that 
man  and  the  monkey  belong  to  the  same  species — and 
are  no  otherwise  to  be  distinguished  from  each  other 
than  by  circumstances,  which  can  be  accounted  for  by 
the  different  physical  and  moral  agencies  to  which  they 
have  been  exposed,  he  very  modestly  adds:  “This  opin¬ 
ion,  therefore,  of  mine  may  be  false ;  but  it  is  not  new 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOUKSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


91 


nor  singular;  and  being  supported  by  such  respectable 
authorities,  I  may  say  the  concurring  testimony  of  all 
ancient  authors  who  have  treated  the  subject,  is,  I  think, 
entitled  to  a  fair  and  candid  examination,  which,  how¬ 
ever,  it  cannot  expect  from  vulgar  prejudice,  but  only 
from  men  of  liberal  thought,  and  more  than  common 
learning;  and  it  is  for  such  only  that  I  write.”  The 
author  did  not  here  mean  to  intimate  that  he  himself 
entertained  a  shadow  of  doubt  on  the  subject.  On  the 
contrary,  he  fully  believed  everything  that  he  has  ad¬ 
vanced.  “The  orang-outangs  (says  he)  are  proved  to  be 
of  our  species  by  marks  of  humanity  that  I  think  are 
incontestable.”  (Ibid.,  p.  375.) 

Now  although  his  Lordship  has  exposed  himself  to 
much  ridicule  for  having  thus  gratuitously  provided  his 
ancestors  with  tails ,  and  has  thereby  brought  his  system 
somewhat  into  disrepute,  yet  we  cannot  help  thinking 
that  he  has  pursued  quite  as  logical  and  philosophical  a 
course  as  others  have  done,  who,  commencing  with  the 
same  general  premises,  have  yet  stopped  short  of  the 
same  pleasant  results.  He  has  accomplished  in  this 
department  of  science  what  Berkley  and  Hume  effected 
in  metaphysics.  He  has  reasoned  consistently  upon 
false,  but  hitherto  almost  undisputed  principles.  He 
has  arrived,  by  a  legitimate  process  of  induction  and 
argumentation  from  unquestioned  data,  at  conclusions, 
which  shock  as  extravagant,  or  provoke  laughter  or  pity 
as  ridiculous  or  absurd.  The  true  dignity  of  man,  and 
his  original  character  and  condition,  will  probably  be 
better  understood  and  appreciated,  in  consequence  of  his 


92 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


learned  labours  to  degrade  him.  His  book  may  possibly 
open  the  eyes  of  many,  who  will  startle  at  what  appears 
monstrous,  while  otherwise  they  might  not  choose  to 
suspect  the  soundness  of  commonly  received  dogmas. 

We  could  as  soon  go  all  lengths  with  Monboddo,  as 
subscribe  to  the  following  statement  or  position  of  Adam 
Ferguson,  in  his  Essay  on  Civil  Society :  “  The  individual 
in  every  age,  has  the  same  race  to  run  from  infancy  to 
manhood,  and  every  infant  or  ignorant  person  now,  is  a 
model  of  what  man  was  in  his  original  state.”  He  evi¬ 
dently  intends  to  avoid  the  extravagance  of  the  former, 
and  of  the  ultra  Epicureans,  for  he  adds,  a  few  pages 
after:  “If  there  was  a  time  in  which  he  had  his  ac¬ 
quaintance  with  his  own  species  to  make,  and  his  facul¬ 
ties  to  acquire,  it  is  a  time  of  which  we  have  no  record, 
and  in  relation  to  which  our  opinions  can  serve  no  pur¬ 
pose,  and  are  supported  by  no  evidence.”  This  is  put 
hypothetically.  It  may,  or  it  may  not  have  been  so. 
We  know  little  or  nothing  about  the  matter,  according 
to  this  sagacious  political  philosopher  and  able  histo¬ 
rian. 

Again,  in  the  progress  of  his  work,  he  presents  us  with 
another  view  of  the  subject,  a  little  modified,  indeed,  but 
in  the  main  sufficiently  consistent  with  the  one  already 
cited.  “The  inhabitants  of  Britain,  at  the  time  of  the 
first  Homan  invasions,  resembled,  in  many  things,  the 
present  natives  of  North  America;  they  were  ignorant 
of  agriculture,  they  painted  their  bodies,  and  used  for 
clothing  the  skins  of  beasts.  Such,  therefore,  appears  to 
have  been  the  commencement  of  history  with  all  nations, 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


93 


and  in  such  circumstances  are  we  to  look  for  the  original 
character  of  mankind.”* 

Dr.  Beattie,  speaking  of  the  system  of  Epicurus,  which 
had  found  so  powerful  an  advocate  in  his  erudite  but 
eccentric  countryman  and  contemporary,  has  the  follow¬ 
ing  very  just  observations: — “One  would  wonder,  (says 
he,)  what  charms  men  could  find  in  a  system  so  degrad¬ 
ing  to  our  nature;  or  what  evidence  in  that  which  has  no 
other  foundation  than  poetical  fancy  and  wild  hypothesis. 
The  Pagans,  indeed,  who  knew  little  of  the  origin  of  man¬ 
kind,  might  be  excused  for  favouring  an  opinion,  which, 
as  it  appears  in  Lucretius,  has  at  least  harmonious  num¬ 
bers  and  elegant  descriptions  to  recommend  it.  And  yet, 
unseduced  by  poetical  allurement,  Quinctilian  declares,  in 
the  language  of  true  philosophy,  that  moral  sentiments 
are  natural  to  us,  and  that  men  had  speech  from  the  be¬ 
ginning,  and  received  that  choice  gift  from  their  Creator. 
And  Ovid’s  beautiful  account  of  the  first  men  seems  to 
have  been  composed,  partly  from  Hesiod’s  Golden  Age, 
and  partly  from  traditions  founded  on  the  Mosaic  history 
of  the  creation; — -that  we  were  at  first  good  and  happy, 
and  lost  our  felicity  when  we  lost  our  innocence. — Is  it 
not  an  idea  more  honourable  to  our  nature,  more  friendly 
to  virtue,  and  more  consonant  to  the  general  notions  of 
mankind,  than  that  we  were  in  the  beginning  a  species 
of  wild  beast,  and  afterwards  by  improvement  degenerated 
into  wicked  and  wretched  men?  If  there  be,  in  the  con- 

*  Ferguson’s  Essay  on  Civil  Society,  p.  125.  See  also  Robertson’s 
History  of  America,  vol.  ii.  pp.  34-51,  where  a  similar  opinion  is 
maintained.  Also  Millot’s  Ancient  History,  at  beginning. 


94 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


sciousness  of  honourable  descent,  anything  that  elevates 
the  soul,  surely  those  writings  cannot  be  on  the  side  of 
virtue  which  represent  our  nature,  and  our  origin,  as  such 
as  we  should  have  reason  to  be  ashamed  of.  But  he  who 
tells  me,  upon  the  authority  of  Scripture,  and  agreeably 
to  the  dictates  of  right  reason,  that  we  were  all  descended 
from  beings,  who  were  created  in  the  image  of  God,  wise, 
innocent  and  happy;  that,  by  their  and  our  unworthy 
conduct,  human  nature  is  miserably  degraded;  but  that 
on  the  performance  of  certain  most  reasonable  conditions, 
we  may  retrieve  our  primitive  dignity,  and  rise  even  to 
higher  happiness  than  that  of  our  first  parents; — the 
man,  I  say,  who  teaches  this  doctrine,  sets  before  me  the 
most  animating  motives  to  virtue,  humility  and  hope,  to 
piety  and  benevolence,  to  gratitude  and  adoration.”  ( Beat- 
ties  Theory  of  Language,  p.  100.) 

Again,  he  says:  “We  learn  to  speak,  when  our  organs 
are  most  flexible,  and  our  powers  of  imitation  most  ac¬ 
tive;  that  is,  when  we  are  infants.  Yet  even  then,  this 
is  no  easy  acquisition,  but  the  effect  of  daily  exercise  con¬ 
tinued  for  several  years  from  morning  to  night.  Were 
we  never  to  attempt  speech  till  we  are  grown  up,  there 
is  reason  to  think  that  we  should  find  it  exceedingly 
difficult,  if  not  impracticable.” 

Mute  savages  have  been  found  in  deserts  and  forests 
who  never  could  be  taught  to  speak.  In  every  language 
there  are  certain  peculiar  accents  and  articulate  sounds 
which  they  only  can  pronounce  with  ease  or  accuracy,  who 
have  learned  to  do  so  when  very  young.  “If,  then,  there 
ever  was  a  time,  when  all  mankind  were  mutum  et  turjpe 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


95 


pccus,  a  dumb  and  brutal  race  of  animals,  all  mankind 
must,  in  the  ordinary  course  of  things,  have  continued 
dumb  to  this  day. — For,  to  such  animals  speech  could 
not  be  necessary;  as  they  are  supposed  to  have  existed 
for  ages  without  it;  and  it  is  not  to  be  imagined,  that 
dumb  and  beastly  savages  would  ever  think  of  contriving 
unnecessary  arts,  whereof  they  had  no  example  in  the 
world  around  them.”  Further,  according  to  Dr.  Johnson : 
“  Speech,  if  invented  at  all,  must  have  been  invented, 
either  by  children,  who  were  incapable  of  invention,  or 
by  men,  who  were  incapable  of  speech.”  “And  there¬ 
fore  reason,  as  well  as  history,  intimates  that  mankind 
in  all  ages  must  have  been  speaking  animals;  the  young 
having  constantly  acquired  this  art  by  imitating  those 
who  were  elder.  And  we  may  warrantably  suppose,  that 
our  first  parents  must  have  received  it  by  immediate 
inspiration.”  (Beattie.) 

Indeed,  no  other  account  of  the  origin  of  language  is 
rational  or  philosophical,  or  even  plausible, —  to  say 
nothing  of  Scripture.  When  it  is  said  that  our  first 
parents  must  have  received  the  art  of  speech  by  imme¬ 
diate  inspiration,  it  is  not  necessary  to  suppose  that  the 
Creator  inspired  them  with  any  particular  original  or 
primitive  language;  but  that  he  made  them  fully  sen¬ 
sible  of  the  power  with  which  they  were  endued  of  form¬ 
ing  articulate  sounds,  gave  them  an  impulse  to  exert  it, 
and  left  the  arbitrary  imposition  of  words  to  their  own 
choice.  But  however  this  might  be,  we  find  Adam  in 
fact,  as  soon  as  created,  giving  names  to  all  animals,  and 
holding  converse  with  his  Maker,  and  with  his  Maker  s 


9G 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


“  last  best  gift/’  which  alone  constituted  his  beautiful 
Eden  a  perfect  Paradise.  We  find  him  from  the  begin¬ 
ning  a  social,  domestic,  speaking  and  religious  being. 
Man  is  called  by  Homer  i^poip,  or  articulate  speaking ;  and 
certainly  there  is  no  other  characteristic  at  once  more 
noble  and  more  peculiarly  his  own. 

That  man,  then,  in  his  primeval  state,  had  no  affinity 
with  any  species  of  the  brute  creation — that  he  never 
was  a  quadruped,  using  his  hands  for  feet — that  he 
never  possessed  any  of  the  ornamental  or  superfluous 
appendages  peculiar  to  the  wild  beast  of  the  forest — 
and  that  he  never  could  have  been  destitute  of  speech 
or  language — the  physiologist,  the  anatomist,  the  his¬ 
torian,  the  philologist,  the  Christian  divine,  with  several 
even  of  the  ancient  sages  and  poets,  unite  in  attesting. 
“Of  standing  facts  there  ought  to  be  no  controversy,” 
says  Dr.  Johnson.  “If  there  are  men  with  tails,  catch 
an  homo  caudatus .”  The  Epicurean  theory,  therefore, 
must  be  surrendered  as  utterly  indefensible  upon  any 
rational  ground. 

Thus  far,  then,  authority,  as  well  as  reason  and  facts, 
will  sustain  our  doctrine;  or  be  found  arrayed  against 
the  scheme  so  beautifully  portrayed  by  Lucretius,  and 
so  speciously  elaborated  by  Monboddo. 

But  the  proposition,  which  it  was  our  main  design  to 
demonstrate,  is  vastly  more  comprehensive.  It  is  not 
enough  to  prove  that  men  were  not  originally  a  dumb 
and  brutish  herd.  Our  object  was  to  show  that  men 
were  not  originally  even  savages;  that  they  were  not  a 
wild,  rude  and  barbarous  race,  like  the  ancient  Gauls 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


97 


and  Britons,  or  like  the  present  Indians  of  America  or 
Negroes  of  Africa.* 

We  have  already  suggested  the  presumption  which 
Reason,  a  priori ,  furnishes  against  this  still  almost  uni¬ 
versally  prevalent  theory.  The  reductio  ad  absurdum 
will  apply  to  the  latter  with  scarcely  less  propriety  and 
effect,  than  to  the  revolting  extravagancies  of  the  Epi¬ 
curean  school. 

The  argument  from  Scripture  and  History  remains 
yet  to  be  exhibited. 

II.  Scripture. — Let  us  then  appeal  to  the  oldest  writ¬ 
ten  record  in  the  world.  Read  the  Mosaic  account  of 
man’s  creation.  Behold  the  first  pair  in  the  garden  of 
Eden;  and  appointed  “to  dress  it,  and  to  keep  it” — with 
“dominion  over  the  fish  of  the  sea,  and  over  the  fowl  of 
the  air,  and  over  every  living  thing  that  moveth  upon 
the  earth.” 

*  Dr.  Blair,  in  his  Lectures  on  Rhetoric  and  Belles-Lettres,  which 
are  studied,  as  orthodox,  wherever  the  English  language  prevails,  takes 
for  granted,  throughout,  that  the  savage  was  the  primitive  state  of 
man.  This  is  more  especially  apparent  whenever  he  has  occasion  to 
trace  to  its  origin  any  human  art,  science,  invention,  discovery,  custom 
or  opinion  which  comes  within  the  scope  of  his  extensive  and  diver¬ 
sified  speculations.  See,  in  particular,  his  Lectures  on  the  Rise  and 
Progress  of  Language.  In  Lecture  38,  on  the  nature  of  Poetry,  he 
remarks:  “In  order  to  explore  the  rise  of  poetry,  we  must  have  re¬ 
course  to  the  deserts  and  the  wilds ;  we  must  go  back  to  the  age  of 
hunters  and  of  shepherds ;  to  the  highest  antiquity ;  and  to  the  sim¬ 
plest  form  of  manners  among  mankind. ”  And  that  we  may  not  be 
left  in  any  doubt  about  his  opinion  of  the  most  ancient  condition  of 
our  race,  he  presently  adds:  “It  is  chiefly  in  America,  that  we  have 
had  the  opportunity  of  being  made  acquainted  with  men  in  their  sav¬ 
age  state,” — i.e.  with  men  in  their  original  or  natural  state. 

vol.  hi. — 1 


98 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


Recollect  that  everything  was  created  in  a  state  of 
perfection  or  maturity.  All  animals  and  vegetables 
were  of  full  size  and  vigour.  They  required  no  time 
to  grow.  Ripe  fruits  were  upon  the  trees;  and  every 
living  creature  was  prepared  at  once  to  enter  upon  its 
destined  career.  Thus,  too,  was  man  created — vigorous 
and  mature  in  all  his  faculties  of  body  and  mind;  ready 
for  every  work  and  duty  which  his  situation  demanded; 
with  God  for  his  companion,  friend  and  instructor.  Hor¬ 
ticulture  was  his  first  employment.  This  has  never  been 
the  occupation  of  savage  life.  Hunting,  then,  or  the 
chase  could  not  have  been  the  primitive  mode  of  pro¬ 
curing  a  subsistence.  Or,  in  other  words,  the  hunting 
state  is  not  the  state  of  nature,  or  of  man  in  his  original, 
natural  condition.  And  yet  savages,  in  every  age  and 
country,  have  been  and  still  are  hunters.  So  that  hunt¬ 
ing  may  be  assumed  as  a  universal  predicate  or  charac¬ 
teristic  of  savage  life.  Adam  therefore  was  not  a  savage. 

He  must  have  been  an  eminent  naturalist,  at  least 
zoologist,  if  he  gave  appropriate  and  significant  names 
to  all  animals.  Of  his  first  two  sons,  the  one  was  a 
farmer,  and  the  other  a  shepherd. 

Cain,  the  first  born  of  the  human  race,  built  a  city, 
and  called  it  Enoch  after  his  own  eldest  son;  and,  of 
course,  must  have  known  all  the  arts  which  such  an 
undertaking  implies  or  requires.  And  that  cities  might 
have  been  very  necessary,  or  at  least  very  convenient, 
will  appear  sufficiently  obvious,  when  we  consider  the 
amount  of  population  which  probably  existed  even  at 
this  early  period.  According  to  several  profound  bib- 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  99 

lical  antiquaries  and  expositors,  there  might  have  been 
many  hundreds  of  thousands.  We  do  not  vouch  for  the 
accuracy  of  any  of  the  speculative  calculations  which 
have  appeared  upon  the  subject  of  the  antediluvian 
population.  We  may  be  sure,  however,  that  none  of 
the  Malthusian  obstacles  to  the  rapid  increase  of  the 
human  species  could  have  been  pleaded  by  old  bache¬ 
lors  then  as  now ,  by  way  of  apology  for  disobeying  one  of 
the  first,  most  positive,  and  most  reasonable  commands 
of  their  Creator. 

Lamech,  the  fifth  in  descent  from  Cain,  was  the  father 
of  Jabal,  Jubal  and  Tubal-cain,  who  are  represented  by 
Moses  as  having  been  extraordinary  proficients  in  several 
of  the  arts,  both  useful  and  ornamental.  (About  A.m. 
500.)  Jabal  “was  the  father  of  such  as  dwell  in  tents, 
and  of  such  as  have  cattle.”  Or,  he  was  a  famous  shep¬ 
herd  and  tent-maker;  and  a  teacher  of  others.  Abel 
had  been  a  shepherd  long  before.  Jubal  “was  the  father 
of  all  such  as  handle  the  harp  and  organ,” — or  all  stringed 
and  all  wind  instruments;  the  original  terms  being  ge¬ 
neric.  Tubal-cain  was  “an  instructor  of  every  artificer 
in  brass  and  iron;”  the  first  smith  on  record;- — a  noted 
manufacturer  of  warlike  instruments  and  domestic  uten¬ 
sils; — an  ingenious  artist,  and  a  teacher  of  others.  Agri¬ 
cultural  implements,  at  least,  must  have  been  in  use 
several  centuries  before.  For  Cain  was  “a  tiller  of  the 
ground,”  and  Adam  a  gardener.  The  former,  too,  had 
built  a  city;  and  of  course,  it  may  be  presumed,  made 
use  of  iron  in  sundry  ways.  Savages  know  nothing  of 


iron. 


100 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


Here,  it  might  not  be  irrelevant  to  the  general  scope  of 
our  argument,  to  glance  at  several  of  the  circumstances 
which  were  peculiarly  favourable  to  the  progress  of  the 
arts  among  the  antediluvians. 

1.  Their  great  age;  and  probably  greater  size  and 
strength.  Most  of  that  very  small  number  of  individ¬ 
uals  whose  age  is  recorded  by  Moses,  lived  nearly  a  thou¬ 
sand  years;  and  others  may  have  lived  much  longer,  for 
aught  we  know  to  the  contrary.  What  might  have  been 
achieved  in  science  and  the  arts,  by  genius  and  persever¬ 
ance,  during  a  single  life  protracted  through  a  period  of 
eight  or  ten  centuries,  can  only  be  conjectured  from  the 
efforts  of  modern  intellect,  since  life  has  been  limited  to 
threescore  years  and  ten.  “  There  were  giants  in  the 
earth  in  those  days,”  (Gen.  vi.  4,)  that  is,  before  the 
deluge — as  there  were  soon  after. 

2.  They  had  stronger  inducements  to  the  erection  of 
superior,  more  costly,  more  durable  and  more  capacious 
edifices  and  monuments,  public  and  private,  than  exist 
at  present.  They  might  reasonably  calculate  on  reaping 
the  benefits  of  their  labours  and  expenditures. 

3.  The  immense  population  of  the  antediluvian  world. 
Sundry  very  learned  and  judicious  authors  suppose  that, 
upon  a  moderate  computation,  there  were  in  this  world 

at  least  two  millions  of  millions  of  souls.  Arts  must 

\ 

flourish  in  the  midst  of  such  a  population.  Even  the 
necessaries  of  mere  animal  existence  could  not  be  pro¬ 
cured  by  such  a  multitude,  in  a  savage  or  uncivilized 
state. 

4.  One  language  before  the  deluge.  This  peculiar  dis- 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


101 


tinction  of  the  antediluvians,  probably  contributed  more 
than  any  or  all  others,  to  their  steady  advancement  in 
knowledge  and  the  arts;  and  certainly  to  prevent  their 
degeneracy  into  savages.* 

5.  The  earth  was  probably  more  fertile,  and  the  cli¬ 
mate  more  healthful,  and  more  auspicious  to  longevity, 
and  consequently  to  every  species  of  mental  and  cor¬ 
poreal  exertion  and  enterprise,  than  at  present.  We 
refer  to  the  cosmogonists  and  arch  geologists  generally, 
for  an  account  of  the  physical  changes  which  the  earth 
is  supposed  to  have  undergone  in  consequence  of  the 
deluge ;  as  regards  its  internal  structure  —  the  order, 


*  The  most  direct,  efficient  and  obvious  cause  of  the  speedy  degen¬ 
eracy  of  a  large  proportion  of  our  race  immediately  after  the  general 
dispersion,  was,  no  doubt,  the  “confusion  of  tongues”  which  preceded 
and  occasioned  that  event.  This  sudden  and  extraordinary  multipli¬ 
cation  of  languages  among  the  primitive  inhabitants  of  the  plains  of 
Shinar,  I  believe,  is  not  usually  assigned  as  a  cause  of  the  savageism 
which  ensued.  At  least,  I  have  not  met  with  it.  It  deserves  a  more 
prominent  exhibition  and  development  than  it  has  hitherto  obtained. 
I  once  supposed  it  so  easy  a  matter  to  account  for  the  existing  diver¬ 
sity  in  language,  that  I  scarcely  deemed  a  miracle  necessary  at  the 
outset  to  effect  it.  My  opinion  on  this  subject  is  totally  changed. 
Without  a  miracle,  human  language  would  have  continued  essentially 
one,  after  the  flood,  as  it  had  been  before ;  and  then  the  savage  state 
would  never  have  existed — at  least  in  the  ordinary  course  of  human 
events.  Language  in  itself,  and  while  uninfluenced  by  other  or  foreign 
dialects,  is  the  most  immutable  and  permanent  thing  in  the  world. 

Again:  should  it  be  assumed  that  the  art  of  writing,  in  some  form, 
is  indispensable  to  civilization,  and  that  neither  the  Antediluvians  nor 
early  Postdiluvians  possessed  the  art,  and  therefore  that  they  must 
have  been  barbarians  or  savages,  I  answer :  It  cannot  be  proved  that 
writing  was  unknown  at  any  period  anterior  to  the  age  of  Moses;  in 
whose  time,  even  alphabetical  writing,  as  we  now  practise  it,  was  as 
perfect  as  it  has  ever  been  since. 


102 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


arrangement  and  mixture  of  its  several  strata  —  the 
formation  of  mountains,  valleys,  oceans,  islands,  lakes, 
deserts,  marshes — its  fertility  and  salubrity — the  posi¬ 
tion  of  its  axis,  whether  at  first  inclined  to  the  plane 
of  the  ecliptic  as  at  present;  or  whether  the  plane  of  the 
equator  was  coincident  with  the  plane  of  the  ecliptic,  so 
that  the  sun  in  its  diurnal  motion  would  seem  to  move 
always  in  the  equator,  but  henceforth  became  oblique  to 
the  same; — whence  an  increase  of  the  year  from  360 
days  to  its  present  length;  whence  also  the  difference  of 
seasons,  and  the  effects  of  such  a  change,  etc. 

But,  to  proceed  with  the  argument.  Moses  is  our  only 
authority  for  everything  appertaining  to  the  antediluvian 
world.  He  has  rapidly  sketched  the  mere  outlines  of 
its  history.  A  few  most  important  facts  he  has  clearly 
stated.  These  facts  accord  with  the  dictates  of  enlight¬ 
ened  reason  and  sound  philosophy.  He  has  solved  the 
problem  of  this  world’s  origin;  and  supplied  the  elements 
from  which  the  true  character  and  condition  of  our  way¬ 
ward  race  may  be  ascertained  from  the  beginning.  He 
gives  “a  local  habitation”  to  the  golden  age  of  fiction; 
and  shows  us  how  “  death  and  all  our  wo”  were  the  con¬ 
sequence  and  the  penalty  of  man’s  disobedience  to  his 
Maker’s  righteous  mandate. 

In  dignity,  in  intellect,  in  virtue,  in  happiness,  in 
glory,  he  was,  at  the  first,  but  a  little  lower  than  the 
angels.  What  he  would  have  been,  had  he  remained 
innocent  and  dutiful,  is  not  for  us  to  conjecture, — except 
so  far  as  we  know  what  angels  and  the  spirits  of  the  just 
made  perfect  are  and  ever  will  be.  But  though  great 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  103 


was  his  fall  from  this  exalted  height,  yet  he  did  not  sink 
so  low  in  the  moral  or  intellectual  scale,  as  at  once  to 
lose  his  knowledge  or  his  faculties.  Though  guilty,  con¬ 
demned,  degraded,  he  was  still  sustained  and  cherished 
and  guided  by  the  kindly  arm  of  infinite  mercy  and  wis¬ 
dom.  Though  the  earth  was  cursed  for  his  sake,  yet  he 
still  retained  his  dominion  over  it.  And  although  in 
the  course  of  a  few  generations,  we  behold  the  countless 
millions  of  our  race  rioting  in  all  manner  of  wickedness, 
with  the  exception  of  a  single  individual  and  his  family, 
still  we  discover  no  traces  or  vestiges  of  savage  life  upon 
the  earth.  Men  may  lose  all  knowledge  of  the  true  God, 
all  reverence  for  his  character  and  laws,  all  relish  for  his 
service  and  worship,  while  yet  they  may  be  highly  dis¬ 
tinguished  in  science  and  the  arts.  Ancient  Egypt,  and 
Greece,  and  Rome  will  testify,  that  the  grossest  moral 
darkness  and  depravity  do  not  always  imply,  or  are  not 
necessarily  connected  with,  a  corresponding  degradation 
of  the  intellectual  character, — or  that  they  are  at  all 
inconsistent  with  the  highest  state  of  civilization  and 
refinement. 

During  the  first  historical  period  then  of  1656  years 
(Hebrew  chronology) — that  is,  from  the  creation  to  the 
deluge — all  mankind,  or  at  least  the  generations  from 
which  Noah  descended,  were  civilized. 

Of  the  state  of  the  arts  in  Noah’s  time,  we  may  form 
some  conjecture  from  the  ark  which  he  constructed  (by 
the  divine  command  indeed,  but  without  any  extraordi¬ 
nary  aid  or  direction,  so  far  as  we  know)  for  the  purpose 
of  preserving  himself  and  family,  with  as  many  of  the 


104 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


different  species  of  beasts,  birds  and  reptiles,  as  were 
necessary  to  replenish  the  new  world  with  inhabitants, 
after  the  destruction  of  the  old.  This  was  probably  the 
most  astonishing  structure,  on  several  accounts,  that  ever 
rested  upon  the  earth,  or  floated  upon  the  surface  of  the 
mighty  deep.  A  ship  of  at  least  one  hundred  thousand 
tons  burthen!  What  a  specimen  of  architectural  skill, 
was  not  this  last  memento  of  antediluvian  art?  Noah 
was  its  builder — its  architect; — he  directed  and  superin¬ 
tended  the  work.  Thousands  of  artisans,  mechanics  and 
labourers  were,  no  doubt,  employed  on  it,  who  perished 
beneath  the  waves  which  bore  it  from  their  reach  and 
from  their  view  forever. 

When  Noah  entered  the  ark,  he  was  600  years  old. 
Japhetli,  100 — Shem,  98 — and  Ham,  probably  96.  They 
therefore  had  time  and  opportunity  sufficient  to  become 
intimately  acquainted  with  all  the  arts  and  learning 
which  the  antediluvians  possessed.  And  we  may  rea¬ 
sonably  conclude  that  they  diligently  and  successfully 
improved  the  time  and  the  means  which  they  enjoyed. 
They  knew  that  they  were  to  be  the  depositaries  of  all 
the  knowledge  and  attainments  of  past  ages;  and  to  be¬ 
come  the  instructors  of  future  generations.  They  were 
familiar  with  the  cities,  edifices,  and  other  productions 
of  the  art,  genius  and  industry  of  the  old  world.  The 
ark  itself  was  many  years  in  building  before  their  eyes. 
They  lived  together  a  year  within  its  capacious  bosom — 
where  they  had  the  finest  opportunity  possible  for  the 
study  of  zoology;  and,  next  to  Adam,  they  were  prob 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


105 


ably  better  versed  in  that  department  of  natural  science 
than  any  other  mortals  have  ever  been. 

How  much  of  the  abstract  sciences,  and  how  much  of 
literature  they  may  have  derived  from  their  ancestors 
and  brethren,  it  is  impossible  for  us  to  determine.  If 
we  say  they  had  nothing,  be  it  so.  It  is,  however,  after 
all,  a  mere  gratis  dictum .  The  fact  can  never  be  proved. 
Astronomy  is  conceded  by  many,  from  a  variety  of  cir¬ 
cumstances,  to  have  been  considerably  known  before  the 
deluge.  But  it  is  the  fashion  to  deny  everything  to 
antiquity,  in  favour  of  which  we  have  no  direct  positive 
evidence.  Conjecture  or  analogy  is  not  allowed  to  supply 
the  absence  or  defect  of  explicit  testimony  or  substantial 
proof  in  any  case. 

It  would  be  too  mortifying  to  the  pride  of  modern 
science  to  suppose  it,  for  a  single  moment,  to  have  been 
within  the  range  of  possibility,  that  the  ancients  should 
have  made  the  sublime  discoveries  and  demonstrations  of 
a  Newton  or  La  Place.  Granted  that  they  did  not.  We 
shall  probably,  however,  in  the  course  of  our  investiga¬ 
tions,  find  some  things  to  balance  the  account.  Facts 
are  stubborn  things.  Fortunately  for  the  fair  fame  of 
ancient  genius,  there  are  living  witnesses  yet  speaking, 
and  speaking  loudly,  in  the  midst  of  surrounding  desola¬ 
tion  and  barbarism,  the  praises  of  an  age  to  which  even 
Grecian  history  does  not  reach. 

But  let  us  return  to  the  mountains  of  Armenia,  and 
see  the  little  remnant  of  the  human  family  issuing  from 
the  ark,  and  commencing  a  new  career  in  a  world  in 
which  probably  not  a  vestige  remained  to  awaken  melan- 


106  MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


choly  recollections  or  tender  associations — not  a  relic  of 
that  grandeur  and  magnificence  on  which  they  had  for¬ 
merly  gazed  with  admiration,  or  contemplated  with  senti¬ 
ments  of  unutterable  compassion  in  the  view  of  that 
awful  catastrophe  wrhich  they  foresaw  would  speedily 
overwhelm  their  vain  and  guilty  possessors. 

How  long  the  ark  itself  continued  as  a  monument  of 
art,  or  a  memorial  of  divine  vengeance  and  of  divine 
mercy— or  as  a  model  of  great  design  and  exquisite 
skill  in  architecture,  whether  for  ship-building  and  naval 
enterprise,  or  for  temples,  towers,  public  or  private  edi¬ 
fices — Moses  has  not  told  us,  and  tradition  is  not  worth 
regarding. 

Noah,  we  are  informed,  became  a  husbandman.  He 
began  the  world  (to  use  a  common  phrase)  as  Adam  and 
his  sons  had  done  before  him,  by  cultivating  the  earth. 
Here  then  is  no  approach  to  savage  life. 

Noah  and  his  family,  for  some  time  probably,  culti¬ 
vated  the  valleys  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Ararat,  one 
of  the  mountains  of  Armenia,  on  which  the  ark  settled 
after  the  subsidence  of  the  waters.  As  they  increased 
in  numbers,  they  appear  to  have  passed  along  the  banks 
of  the  Euphrates,  which  rises  in  the  mountains  of  Ar¬ 
menia,  (vid.  Herodotus ,)  till  at  length  they  came  to  the 
plains  of  Shinar  or  Babylonia, — allowed  to  be  the  most 
fertile  country  in  the  East.  Here  they  built  a  city 
and  commenced  a  tower,  whose  top  might  66 reach  unto 
heaven,”  i.e.  to  the  visible  heavenly  luminaries  or  to  the 
clouds.  For  this  purpose  they  burnt  brick,  which  they 
used  instead  of  stone ;  “  and  slime,”  or  bitumen  (Lett. 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  107 


Vulg.)  or  dGcpaXxbq,  ( Grcec.  Sept.)  “had  they  for  mortar.” 
(Gen.  xi.  3,  4.)  Three  years,  it  is  said,  they  prepared 
their  materials,  and  twenty-two  years  carried  on  their 
building.  Their  arrogant  and  rebellious  attempt  dis¬ 
pleased  the  Lord,  who  miraculously  confounded  their 
language,  which  put  an  effectual  stop  to  the  work,  pro¬ 
cured  for  it  the  name  of  Babel  or  “confusion,”  and 
obliged  the  people  to  disperse  themselves,  and  replenish 
the  world. 

It  is  thought  by  some  that  the  family  of  Shem  did  not 
concur  in  this  presumptuous  enterprise, — that  Nimrod, 
the  son  of  Cush  and  grandson  of  Ham,  was  the  principal 
leader:  but  of  this  we  have  no  certain  evidence.  What 
became  of  this  mighty  tower  (commenced  about  100 
years  after  the  deluge)  we  cannot  determine.  Nearly 
1800  years  after  its  erection,  Herodotus  saw  a  structure 
at  Babylon  (the  temple  of  Jupiter  Belus)  consisting  of 
eight  towers,  raised  one  above  another,  built  of  bricks 
and  bitumen,  of  immense  size.  This  lofty  edifice  is 
believed  by  many  to  have  been  the  identical  tower  de¬ 
scribed  by  Moses.  Bel  or  Belus  was  a  title  given  to 
Nimrod,  according  to  Bryant.  Its  ruins,  or  the  sup¬ 
posed  ruins  of  this  ancient  tower  or  temple,  have  been 
frequently  noticed  by  antiquaries  and  modern  travellers.* 

*  Tide  Herodotus,  St.  Jerome,  Calmet,  Bochart,  Rollin,  Bryant, 
Rich,  Niebuhr,  Rennell,  Della  Yalle,  Ker  Porter,  Grotefend,  etc. 

It  is  very  questionable,  however,  whether  even  the  site  of  old  Baby¬ 
lon  can  be  ascertained  at  the  present  day.  Lucian  intimates  that  not 
a  vestige  of  Nineveh  remained  in  his  time ;  and  he  predicts  that  such 
also  would  soon  be  the  fate  of  Babylon.  In  this  particular,  at  least, 
he  accords  with  the  Hebrew  prophets. 


108 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


It  is  not  material  to  our  present  purpose  to  inquire 
into  the  object  or  end  for  which  this  remarkable  towrer 
was  built.  Some  suppose  it  was  designed  to  be  a  “tem¬ 
ple  to  the  host  of  heaven,”  or  for  idolatrous  worship  of 
some  kind; — others,  that  it  was  intended  to  afford  an 
asylum  to  the  builders  and  their  families  in  case  of 
another  deluge;  like  the  Pyramids  of  Egypt,  perhaps; — 
others  again,  that  it  was  designed  to  be  the  central  ornar 
ment  or  principal  fortress  of  a  grand  metropolitan  city, 
the  seat  of  government,  in  order  to  prevent  a  general 
dispersion  of  the  people.  “Let  us  make  us  a  name,  lest 
we  be  scattered  abroad  upon  the  face  of  the  whole  earth.” 
(Gen.  xi.  4.) 

The  sons  of  Noah  had  witnessed  the  massive  and  colos¬ 
sal  structures  of  the  old  world — they  had  seen  the  great 
ship  which  had  preserved  them  from  a  watery  grave — 
ambition  or  vanity,  or  a  distrust  of  the  divine  providence 
and  promise,  might  have  prompted  them,  at  least  some 
of  them,  (say  the  family  of  Ham,  known  to  have  been 
profane  and  disobedient,)  to  imitate  the  proud  monu¬ 
ments  of  art  which  had  adorned  the  antediluvian  world, 
that  future  generations  might  possess  a  specimen  and  a 
model  of  the  same  stupendous  and  magnificent  archi¬ 
tecture — or  that  their  own  name  might  be  immortalized 
by  their  labours — or  that  it  might  serve  as  a  citadel  or 
military  castle  of  defence  and  protection — or  as  a  palace 
or  residence  for  their  chief,  (Ham,  for  instance,  or  Nim¬ 
rod,)  for  many  centuries  to  come;  not  realizing  that 
their  life  was  to  be  shortened — or — but  it  is  no  matter 
what  they  had  in  view. 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


109 


It  proves  that  they  were  still  equal  to  great  under¬ 
takings;  that  they  had  not  lost  that  knowledge  of  the 
arts  which  they  must  have  brought  with  them  from  the 
ruins  and  the  wreck  of  former  nations.  They  were  still 
a  civilized  people. 

Down  to  this  period  assuredly,  if  there  be  truth  in 
Scripture,  no  trace  of  savageness  can  be  found  in  our 
world.  We  fearlessly  and  most  confidently  oppose  facts 
to  theory.  And  we  are  willing  cheerfully  to  submit  the 
case  to  any  honest,  enlightened,  independent  jury  of  our 
peers. 

Civilization  and  the  arts  continued  to  flourish  in  the 
countries  first  occupied  after  the  flood.  In  the  fruitful 
plains  of  Shinar  or  Babylon — upon  the  eastern  and  south¬ 
ern  shores  of  the  Mediterranean — along  the  banks  of  the 
Euphrates,  the  Tigris  and  the  Nile — and  in  the  adjacent 
regions. 

But  here  commences  a  new  era.  Mankind  were  now 
to  be  dispersed  and  scattered  over  the  face  of  the  earth. 

As  men  travelled  further  from  their  original  residence 
— into  colder,  more  sterile,  more  inhospitable,  or  more 
unhealthful  climes — into  rocky,  mountainous  regions — 
remote  islands,  impervious  forests  and  deserts,  by  this 
time  filled  with  beasts  of  prey  and  venomous  reptiles — 
especially  when  the  colonies  were  small  and  indifferently 
furnished  with  artisans  and  mechanics,  or  with  the  im¬ 
plements  and  utensils  indispensable  to  agriculture  and 
carpentry — in  such  circumstances,  it  is  easy  to  account 
for  the  speedy  degeneracy  of  numerous  tribes,  and  for 
their  lapse  into  a  barbarous  and  savage  state. 


110 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


Thus,  Northern  Asia,  the  greater  part  of  Africa,  the 
islands  of  the  Mediterranean  Sea  and  of  the  ocean,  Eu¬ 
rope  and  America,  appear  to  have  been  inhabited  by 
rude  and  savage  and  migratory  hordes,  as  far  back  as 
history  and  tradition  extend;  while  the  same  history 
and  tradition- — together  with  Scripture — assure  us  that 
Chaldea,  Assyria,  Phoenicia  and  Egypt, — perhaps  India 
and  other  Eastern  countries, — were  civilized  and  polished 
from  the  remotest  times,  or  from  the  beginning.  And 
these  have  proved  the  fountain  of  civilization,  letters  and 
the  arts,  to  every  part  of  the  globe,  where  they  have  been 
found,  or  where  they  now  exist. 

From  the  building  of  Babel  to  the  period  at  which 
Egypt  appears,  on  the  page  of  authentic  history,  a  great 
and  flourishing  empire,  famed  alike  for  wealth  and  power 
and  wisdom  and  science,  the  interval  is  short;  the  steps 
are  few  and  easily  marked. 

We  have  thus  presented  the  outlines  of  our  general 
views  on  this  curious  subject,  under  the  heads  of  Reason 
and  Scripture. 

The  third  branch  of  the  argument,  namely,  that  from 
History,  will  be  illustrated  in  a  future  article;  in  which, 
we  shall  endeavour  to  ascend  the  historical  stream  of 
civilization,  till  we  fairly  land  upon  the  classic  shores 
of  ancient  Greece;  whence,  confessedly,  modern  Europe 
and  European  America  have  derived  all  their  civility, 
literature  and  arts.  Nor  shall  we  assign  the  palm  of 
originating  these  to  the  ingenious  Greeks;  much  as  we 
admire  them,  and  unquestionable  as  are  their  claims  to 
the  everlasting  gratitude  of  mankind.  We  shall  pursue 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  Ill 


our  voyage  to  Egypt  and  the  East; — where  will  be  found 
all  the  luxury,  beauty,  opulence,  splendour  and  refine¬ 
ment  which  usually  distinguish  the  meridian  of  national 
greatness,  or  which  characterize  its  decline — even  at  the 
earliest  epoch  to  which  Grecian  history  and  tradition 
ever  ventured  to  approach.  Here  was  civilization  of  the 
highest  order,  when  the  Greeks  themselves  were,  by  their 
own  showing,  fierce  and  untamed  barbarians. 

Thus,  commencing  from  the  creation  of  man,  we  learn 
from  Scripture  that  he  existed  in  a  civilized  state,  at  least 
down  to  the  period  of  the  general  dispersion :  and,  revers¬ 
ing  the  order  of  our  inquiry,  we  shall  find  from  history 
that  civilization  is  still  traceable  up  to  the  age  and  the 
region  when  and  where  this  memorable  event  is  believed 
to  have  occurred.  . 


THE  PRIMITIVE  STATE  OF  MANKIND. 


[CONCLUDED.] 


I  have  said  that  it  can  be  proved  from  Reason,  Scrip¬ 
ture  and  History,  that  the  primitive  state  of  the  human 
race  was  civilized .  I  have  shown  how  reason,  prior  to 
any  investigation  of  facts,  confirms  the  position,  and  how 
unreasonable  is  every  other  hypothesis.  I  have  exhib¬ 
ited  the  scriptural  account  of  man’s  creation;  and  ex¬ 
posed  the  absurdity  of  supposing  that  he  could  have 
proceeded  from  the  hand  of  an  infinitely  wise,  good  and 
powerful  Being,  mature  in  his  corporeal  faculties,  and 
yet  destitute  of  mental  furniture,  or  deficient  in  wisdom 
and  intellect.  Or,  in  other  words,  that  he  should  have 
been  formed  only  a  full-grown  infant;  and,  in  that  help¬ 
less  condition,  have  been  left  by  his  Creator  to  grope  his 
way  in  this  new  world,  friendless,  ignorant,  unprotected 
— without  a  guide  or  instructor  to  aid  in  the  gradual  de¬ 
velopment  of  his  rational  powers,  and  in  the  attainment 
of  that  knowledge  and  skill  which  his  situation  imperi¬ 
ously  demanded  from  the  beginning;  and  without  which 
he  must  either  soon  have  perished,  or  remained  forever 
in  a  degraded  and  brutish  condition.  I  have  shown  that 
Scripture,  so  far  from  countenancing  any  such  representa¬ 
tion  of  his  original  state  and  character,  does  directly  and 
(112) 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


113 


most  clearly  contradict  it.  I  have  rapidly  sketched  his 
early  history,  and  brought  under  review  the  several  facts 
recorded  by  the  pen  of  inspiration  calculated  to  illustrate 
this  dark  period  of  human  society, — extending  from  the 
creation  to  the  deluge.  I  have  followed  the  same  safe 
and  infallible  guide,  from  the  second  commencement  of 
our  wayward  race,  to  the  building  of  the  tower  of  Babel : 
and  in  all  this  progress  through  the  lapse  and  the  revo¬ 
lutions  of  nearly  eighteen  centuries,  we  have  discovered 
no  trace  of  savage  life  upon  the  earth. 

All  the  data  with  which  we  are  furnished,  and  all  the 
analogical  reasoning  which  these  data  suggest,  go  to  the 
establishment  of  the  proposition,  that  man  existed  from 
the  beginning  in  a  state  of  civilization,  with  very  many, 
if  not  all,  of  the  arts  and  improvements  which  usually 
distinguish  and  adorn  such  a  state;  and  that  he  con¬ 
tinued  in  this  state  down  to  the  period  just  specified.  I 
have  also  shown  it  to  be  highly  probable  that,  soon  after 
the  dispersion  of  mankind  from  the  fruitful  plains  of 
Shinar,  they  began  in  many  places  to  degenerate;  that, 
while  the  arts  flourished  and  extended  along  the  banks 
of  the  Tigris,  the  Euphrates  and  the  Nile — upon  the 
eastern  and  southern  shores  of  the  Mediterranean  Sea — 
in  the  intermediate  and  adjacent  countries — and  perhaps 
far  into  India  and  the  East — they  were  either  totally  or 
nearly  lost  by  the  numerous  colonies  which  migrated, 
under  inauspicious  circumstances,  into  more  barren,  un- 
genial  and  inhospitable  climes,  especially  where  all  future 
intercourse  between  the  colonies  and  the  parent  stock 
was  rendered  difficult  or  impracticable.  I  have  shown 

VOL.  III. — 8 


114 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


how  easy  it  is  for  men  to  degenerate  into  savages; — that 
this  is  a  very  natural  process  and  of  frequent  occurrence; 
that  we  everywhere  behold  families  and  individuals,  even 
in  the  midst  of  the  most  refined  society,  and  within  sight 
of  our  proudest  institutions  of  science  and  noblest  monu¬ 
ments  of  art,  ignorant,  degraded  and  removed  but  a  single 
step  from  the  savage  of  the  wilderness;  that  it  requires 
the  constant  care  and  studious  discipline  of  parents  and 
teachers  for  many  years,  to  train  up  children  to  habits 
of  industry,  good  order  and  common  civility  of  deport¬ 
ment, — to  make  them  respectable  farmers,  mechanics  and 
tradesmen;  much  more  to  imbue  their  minds  with  science 
and  literature  to  qualify  them  for  distinction  and  emi¬ 
nence  in  the  liberal  arts  and  professions,  and  for  all  the 
various  walks  and  departments  of  honourable  life  and 
elegant  pursuit,  which  are  supposed  to  be  worthy  of  the 
ambition  of  the  most  exalted  genius. 

Let  children  grow  up  without  any  portion  of  this  cul¬ 
ture,  and  they  will  be  but  little  the  better  or  wiser  for 
having  been  born  in  a  land  of  light  and  knowledge.  In 
this  respect,  the  son  of  a  philosopher  is  on  a  level  with 
the  son  of  a  beggar;  and,  a  priori ,  it  is  just  as  likely  that 
the  child  of  a  Cherokee  warrior  should  become,  under 
the  same  or  similar  advantages  of  education,  an  orna¬ 
ment  to  the  republic  of  letters,  as  it  is  that  the  child  of 
the  President  of  the  United  States  should  be  thus  dis¬ 
tinguished.  Cceteris  paribus ,  it  is  education  alone  that 
constitutes  the  difference  between  one  individual  and 
another.  And  this  same  tedious,  painful  process  of  tui¬ 
tion  and  training  must  be  repeated  with  every  genera- 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  115 


tion.  Wherever  it  is  relaxed  or  intermitted,  there  will 
appear  a  corresponding  declension  or  degeneracy.  Knowl¬ 
edge  cannot  be  inherited,  like  property.  And  none  of 
us  will  ever  be  the  wiser  for  the  attainments  of  our  an¬ 
cestors,  though  we  could  number  in  the  proud  catalogue 
all  the  Bacons  and  Aristotles  that  have  ever  lived,  unless 
we  pursue  a  similar  laborious  course  of  study  and  self- 
cultivation  in  order  to  reach  the  same  eminence.  All 
this  is  sufficiently  obvious;  though  seldom  taken  into  the 
account  by  those  who  speculate  on  the  subject  of  human 
improvement. 

There  is  no  golden  or  royal  road  to  science;  and  yet, 
somehow  or  other,  we  are  constantly  deluding  ourselves 
with  the  fancy,  that,  as  the  world  grows  older,  it  must 
become  wiser.  That  every  new  generation  commences 

where  the  former  left  off,  and  has  nothing  to  do  but  to 

* 

add  to  the  stock  already  acquired.  In  one  sense,  this  is 
true.  It  is  certainly  easier  to  travel  in  a  beaten  path 
than  to  discover  or  strike  out  a  new  one.  It  is  easier  to 
master  a  well-digested  system  of  science  than  to  contrive 
or  invent  a  different  or  a  better.  And  when  an  ardent, 
gifted,  talented,  enterprising  individual  shall  have  mas¬ 
tered  what  is  known,  he  may  possibly  advance  into  the 
unknown,  and  contribute  something  to  the  general  or 
common  fund  of  human  knowledge.  But  then  he  must 
first  go  through  the  drudgery  of  an  apprenticeship.  He 
must  labour  hard,  and  labour  long,  in  order  to  become 
initiated  in  the  profound  mysteries  which  have  exercised 
the  wit  and  occupied  the  lives  of  those  who  have  gone 
before  him.  How  few,  after  all,  have  ever  comprehended 


116  MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


the  science  of  a  Newton — much  less  improved  or  enlarged 
it!  How  few,  among  the  thousands  of  erudite  and  accom¬ 
plished  scholars  of  modern  times,  can  be  named  with  Sir 
William  Jones  in  the  field  of  universal  literature!  And 
upon  whom  has  fallen  the  mantle  of  the  recently  departed 
Davy,  and  Cuvier,  and  La  Place,  and  Bowditch? 

Now  this  train  of  remark  will  apply  to  every  degree 
of  excellence,  in  every  department  of  knowledge,  and  to 
every  art  and  vocation  of  common  life.  It  shows  at  once 
the  difficulty  of  keeping  the  world  up  to  the  mark  (if  I 
may  so  express  it)  which  it  has  actually  reached,  and 
the  facility  with  which  it  may  recede  or  decline  from  it. 
And  were  it  not  for  the  art  of  printing,  (but  recently 
invented,)  which  perpetuates  and  widely  diffuses  every 
novel  discovery  and  improvement;  and  which  has  ren¬ 
dered  the  vast  stores  of  ancient  literature  and  science 

* 

easily  accessible  to  all;  our  own  age  might  have  wit¬ 
nessed  as  barbarous  a  neglect  of  the  philosophers  of  the 
last,  as  those  of  Babylon  and  Egypt  and  Greece  were 
successively  doomed  to  experience. 

I  have  said  that  it  is  impossible  for  men  in  a  savage 
state  ever  to  advance,  by  their  own  unassisted  efforts,  to 
civilization  and  refinement.  The  history  of  every  savage 
tribe,  from  the  most  remote  ages  in  which  savage  life  has 
been  known  to  the  present  moment,  bears  testimony  to 
the  fact.  It  is  now  more  than  three  hundred  years  since 
Columbus  discovered  our  own  continent : — but  the  Amer 
ican  savages  are,  at  this  day,  as  distant  from  civilization 
as  they  were  when  the  white  man  first  began  to  encroach 
upon  their  forests,  and  to  exhibit  to  their  view  the  con 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


117 


veniences  and  comforts  of  European  art  and  industry. 
And,  in  any  case,  where  they  have  been  tamed,  enlight¬ 
ened  and  civilized,  it  has  been  owing  to  the  persevering 
discipline  and  culture  of  the  benevolent  Christian  mis¬ 
sionary  and  teacher,  who  have  generously  devoted  years 
to  this  philanthropic  object.  In  general,  too,  they  have 
succeeded  only  with  the  children  of  the  savage;  and  that 
by  withdrawing  them  wholly  from  their  native  associates, 
and  by  educating  them  precisely  as  other  children  are 
educated.  In  all  the  regions  of  the  Old  World  which 
are  known  ever  to  have  been  inhabited  by  barbarous 
and  savage  tribes,  but  which  are  now  civilized  and  pol¬ 
ished,  it  is  easy  to  show  from  whence,  in  what  way,  and 
at  what  period,  they  severally  received  the  arts  and 
polish  of  civilized  life;  and  that,  in  every  instance,  they 
were  indebted  to  others  more  improved  than  themselves  for 
all  their  acquisitions.  From  analogy,  we  may  and  must 
conclude  that  such  will  ever  be  the  order  of  events. 

The  Mexicans  and  Peruvians  of  the  New  World  fur¬ 
nish  no  exception  to  the  rule.  We  know  very  little  of 
their  history.  We  cannot  tell  whence  they  derived  the 
few  rude  arts,  which,  it  is  admitted,  they  possessed  when 
first  visited  by  the  Spaniards.  It  cannot  be  proved  that 
they  had  ever  been  destitute  of  those  arts.  The  proba¬ 
bility  is,  that  these  were  the  remnant  which  they  inher¬ 
ited  from  their  ancestors,  who  had  migrated  from  the 
mother  country  (the  original  fountain  of  all  the  arts) 
under  more  favourable  auspices,  than  did  those  of  the 
neighbouring  tribes  in  either  North  or  South  America; 
or,  what  is  more  probable,  that  the  latter,  in  their  wan- 


118 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


derings,  had  degenerated  and  sunk  lower  in  the  descend¬ 
ing  scale  than  the  former.  But  after  all  that  has  been 
urged  in  favour  of  the  Mexicans  and  Peruvians,  it  can 
hardly  be  conceded,  that  a  people,  who  had  not  the  use 
of  iron  in  any  form  among  them — who,  though  possess¬ 
ing  the  richest  mines  of  gold  and  silver,  knew  not  how 
to  work  them  or  to  extract  the  pure  metal  from  the  ore, 
and  had  no  more  of  these  precious  commodities  than 
what  they  chanced  to  find  in  a  virgin  state,  and  who 
were  conquered  by  a  handful  of  needy  and  desperate 
adventurers — could  prefer  any  just  claims  to  the  char¬ 
acter  of  civilized . 

It  has  been  said  by  Dr.  Robertson  and  others,  that  the 
aborigines  of  this  vast  continent  must  have  arrived  from 
a  country  destitute  of  the  useful  and  necessary  arts,  such 
as  the  knowledge  of  working  iron,  for  instance;  because 
these  arts  can  never  be  lost.  Now,  in  opposition  to  this 
whole  theory,  we  have  proved  from  Scripture,  that  iron 
was  in  common  use  long  before  the  deluge;  that  Noah 
and  his  family  must  have  known  and  did  actually  exer¬ 
cise  many  of  the  arts  confessedly  belonging  to  a  civilized 
state;  and  that  in  the  countries  first  settled  after  the 
flood,  these  arts  have  always  flourished;  and,  conse¬ 
quently,  that  the  fact  of  any  people’s  existing,  on  the 
face  of  the  globe,  ignorant  of  these  arts,  clearly  proves 
that,  at  some  period,  no  matter  how  remote,  they  must 
have  lost  them.  If  Noah  were  really  the  father  of  the 
whole  human  race,  and  if  any  portion  of  his  descendants 
can  be  found  wholly  destitute  of  those  arts  of  primary 
necessity  which  he  undoubtedly  had,  and  which  he  im- 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


119 


parted  to  his  immediate  posterity;  then  it  follows,  that 
these  necessary  arts  may  have  been  and  must  have  been 
utterly  lost  by  such  portion  of  his  descendants  as  are 
now  found  without  them.  It  is  no  matter  then  whether 
the  American  Indians  lost  them  before  they  reached 
these  shores  or  long  after  their  arrival  hither.  The 
position  of  the  learned  historian  is  untenable.  And  it 
cannot  fairly  enter  into  the  Question  of  the  original 
peopling  of  this  hemisphere.* 

III.  History.  But  how  does  history  confirm  our  view 
of  the  primeval  and  early  state  of  mankind?  Does  his¬ 
tory  accord  either  with  the  deductions  of  reason  or  the 
representations  of  Scripture,  as  I  have  exhibited  them? 
Do  not  the  Greek  and  Koman  historians  seem  to  convey 
a  different  account  of  the  matter?  Does  not  the  voice 


*  Mr.  Bancroft,  in  the  third  volume  of  his  History  of  the  United 
States,  concludes  that  America  was  peopled  from  eastern  Asia ;  that 
the  Mongolian  and  Americo-Indian  races  are  identical  in  origin ;  that 
the  epoch  of  their  divergence  or  separation  was  at  a  period  so  remote, 
that  the  peculiar  habits,  institutions  and  culture  of  the  aborigines  must 
be  regarded  as  all  their  own,  or  as  indigenous.  “By  this  hypothesis 
(says  a  writer  in  the  North  American  Review,  No.  110)  he  extricates 
the  question  from  the  embarrassment  caused  by  the  ignorance  which 
the  aborigines  have  manifested  in  the  use  of  iron,  milk,  etc.  known  to 
the  Mongol  hordes,  but  which  he,  of  course,  supposes  were  not  known, 
at  the  time  of  the  migration.”  When  did  the  Mongols  acquire  or  lose 
this  knowledge  ?  If  Noah  and  his  children  possessed  it,  and  if  both 
the  Mongols  and  Indians  are  his  descendants,  then  it  must  have  been 
lost — at  least  by  some  of  them. 

I  incline  to  the  opinion,  that  most  of  the  American  tribes  are 
descended  from  Ham;  and  that  they  migrated  to  this  continent,  by 
way  of  Africa  and  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  soon  after  the  dispersion  at 
Babel. 


120 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


of  antiquity  proclaim  that  man  was  once  rude,  barbar¬ 
ous  and  savage.  Here,  I  acknowledge,  we  are  beset 
with  some  apparent  difficulties  in  the  outset.  These, 
I  think,  could  be  easily  dissipated,  were  it  not  for  the 
prescriptive  dominion  which  the  classic  authorities 
have  obtained  over  our  philosophy,  as  well  as  over 
our  ordinary  habits  of  reasoning  and  reflective  associa¬ 
tions.  We  have  been  misled  both  by  their  facts  and 
their  poetry. 

Let  it  be  recollected  that  the  aborigines  of  Greece  and 
Italy  were  a  barbarous — perhaps  savage  people.  (We 
shall  hereafter  see  how  they  became  civilized.)  It  was 
natural,  as  they  advanced  in  the  arts,  for  them  to  con¬ 
clude  that  their  own  primitive  condition  was  really  the 
primitive  or  original  condition  of  mankind.  At  any  rate, 
their  poets,  while  giving  the  reins  to  romantic  fancy, 
and  mingling  fact  with  fiction,  delighted  in  painting  the 
scenes  and  in  celebrating  the  exploits  of  savage  life  and 
savage  daring;  in  tracing  the  progress  of  human  improve¬ 
ment  from  the  rudest  beginnings;  and  by  the  witchery 
of  harmonious  numbers,  imparting  beauty  and  order  and 
life  and  reality  to  imagination’s  wildest  figments.  They 
never  dreamed  of  a  more  ancient  or  more  cultivated 
model  of  social  existence  than  their  own  limited  domes¬ 
tic  sphere  of  observation  and  experience  supplied  or  sug¬ 
gested.  These  worthy  votaries  and  favourites  of  Apollo 
and  the  Muses,  though  no  conjurors,  seem  to  have  been 
well  aware  of  their  high  vocation,  and  to  have  very  liber¬ 
ally  availed  themselves  of  the  license  and  the  inspiration 
accorded  to  them,  by  common  consent,  as  professors  of 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  121 

the  “art  divine.”  Hence,  among  other  “miracula  spe- 
ciosa,”  by  the  magic  spell  of  their  poetic  enchantments, 
they  caused  their  ancestors  to  spring  up,  full  grown  and 
completely  armed,  from  dragon’s  teeth  or  from  their 
mother  earth:  and  thus  conferred  upon  the  natives  the 
distinctive  and  flattering  epithet  or  title  of  earth-born; 
which  was  the  more  grateful  to  their  national  vanity,  as 
it  excluded  or  concealed  all  obligation  to  a  foreign  origin 
or  to  foreign  wisdom.* 

The  agency  of  the  gods  was  deemed  necessary  to 
restrain  and  mitigate  the  furious  passions  of  these  pre¬ 
sumptuous  and  cruel  sons  of  Terra ;  who,  in  some  in¬ 
stances  during  “the  heroic  ages,”  seem  to  have  outwitted 
and  vanquished  Jupiter  himself.  However,  in  process 
of  time,  by  the  kindly  teachings  of  Bacchus,  Mercury, 
Janus,  Vulcan,  Apollo,  Ceres,  Minerva,  and  the  rest  of 
then*  good-natured  and  obliging  deities,  male  and  female, 
these  vagrant  robbers  and  cut-throats  were  converted 
into  honest  agriculturists,  gentle  shepherds  and  clever 
artisans. 

Thus  the  poets  preoccupied  the  ground:  and  long  be¬ 
fore  the  sober  historian  began  his  chronicle  of  humble 
life,  they  had  given  universal  currency  and  reputation 


*  The  Athenians  assumed  to  themselves  the  appellation  avTox&oveq, 
as  though  they  had  been  produced  from  the  same  earth  which  they 
inhabited  :  and  as  the  ancients  commonly  denominated  themselves 
r-rjev elq,  sons  of  the  earth,  the  Athenians  took  the  name  of  Timysq, 
grasshoppers.  In  allusion  to  this  designation,  many  of  them  wore 
golden  grasshoppers  in  their  hair,  as  an  ornament  of  distinction,  and 
a  badge  of  their  antiquity;  because  those  insects  were  thought  to  have 
sprung  from  the  ground. 


122 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


and  sanctity  to  the  theogony  and  mythology  which  they 
themselves  invented,  or  fabricated  from  the  popular 
superstitions  and  legends  of  their  own  country,  or  from 
such  historical  and  biographical  facts  or  mythical  tradi¬ 
tions  as  they  had  collected  among  the  polished  nations 
of  the  East.  The  machinery  and  fables  and  fancies  of 
poetry  soon  parsed  for  realities;  and  thus  became  asso¬ 
ciated  and  incorporated  with  whatever  was  held  as  true 
and  sacred  in  science  and  religion.  When  the  historian 
at  length  appeared,  and  commenced  the  record  of  his 
countrv’s  fame,  it  was  natural  for  him  to  look  back  into 
ages  that  were  past,  and  to  search  for  the  materials  of 
a  regular  narrative  from  the  earliest  period  to  his  own 
times.  And  here  he  was  compelled  to  have  recourse  to 
the  prevalent  poetic  faith  of  his  countrymen,  or  else  to 
do  violence  to  their  prejudices  and  vanity  and  supersti¬ 
tion,  by  a  bold  rejection  of  their  whole  system.  ‘The 
latter  was  not  to  be  expected.  Nor  did  he  venture  upon 
the  rash  experiment.  He  adopted  the  vulgar  notions 
which  time  and  poetry  had  sanctioned  and  hallowed. 
He  traced  their  own  origin — and  gratuitously  referred 
the  origin  of  other  nations — up  to  a  period,  more  or  less 
indefinitely  remote,  when  the  arts  and  manners  of  civil¬ 
ized  life  were  yet  to  be  acquired.  The  same  causes  also 
led  the  philosophers,  in  their  speculations,  to  erect  sys¬ 
tems  upon  a  similar  basis.  With  most  of  these,  man  was 
assumed  to  have  been  at  first  but  a  little  in  advance  of 
the  brute  with  which  he  associated  in  a  common  forest.* 


*  Modern  philosophers  have  commonly  started  from  the  same  point. 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


123 


Thus  all  things  conspired  to  render  this  doctrine  plausi¬ 
ble,  and  to  give  it  a  passport  to  universal  acceptance. 
It  became  a  part  of  the  national  creed  of  the  Greeks; 
and,  after  them,  of  the  Romans. 

Still  we,  now  and  then,  behold  the  feeble  glimmerings 
of  a  few  scattered  rays  from  the  sun  of  truth  beaming 
through  the  darkening  mists  of  poetic  illusion  and  philo¬ 
sophical  refinement.  A  golden  age — a  happier  state— a 
brighter,  purer,  more  enlightened  period  sometimes  in¬ 
spired  the  Muse’s  lay,  and  seemed  to  point  to  that  Eden 
of  innocence  and  bliss  of  which  the  Bible  tells  us,  and 
of  which  some  faint  traditional  remains  had  escaped  the 
general  wreck  of  historic  truth.  The  gods  too,  say  they, 
taught  the  people  agriculture  and  the  arts.  Was  not 
this  merely  disguising  the  fact  that  they  owed  all  to 
foreigners?  By  their  own  admission,  then,  they  received 
extraordinary  aid  and  instruction  from  some  quarter; 
and  it  matters  not,  so  far  as  our  argument  is  concerned, 
wdiether  the  divinity  interposed  to  rescue  them  from 
ignorance  and  barbarism,  or  whether  they  derived  the 
same  favours  from  wiser  mortals,  or  from  those  nations 
which  they  denominated  barbarians.  For  thus  the 
Greeks,  be  it  remembered,  flattered  their  own  vanity, 
and  manifested  their  contempt  for  all  other  nations, 
however  polished  or  powerful,  by  this  sweeping  sen¬ 
tence  of  degradation,  implied  in  the  contemptuous  appel¬ 
lation —  barbarians.  All  their  writers,  whether  poets, 
historians  or  philosophers,  liberally  employed  it  on  every 
occasion.  And  thus  also  did  the  Romans,  in  regard  to 
all  other  nations  except  the  Greeks; — for  to  these,  they 


124 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


acknowledged  themselves  debtors  exclusively  for  their 
own  literature,  arts,  laws  and  civility.  By  this  prepos¬ 
terous  and  arrogant  procedure,  they  effectually  kept  out 
of  view  the  claims  of  every  other  people  to  greater  an¬ 
tiquity  and  to  profounder  science  than  their  own.  An 
odious  epithet,  applied  to  those  whom  we  fear  or  hate,  or 
affect  to  despise,  has  ever  proved  the  most  cogent  species 
of  logic  which  can  be  addressed  to  the  populace.  The 
Grecian  sages,  as  we  shall  see,  knew  better. 

But  what,  after  all,  do  their  historians  say  on  this  sub¬ 
ject?  Their  conjectures  ought  to  go  for  nothing:  their 
statements,  built  on  fable  and  fiction  and  national  preju¬ 
dice  and  vanity,  must  go  for  nothing.  What  they  them¬ 
selves  sawT  and  heard  and  examined,  and  what  they 
learned  from  authentic  sources,  wre  will  believe.  Thus 
far  their  authority  deserves  our  respectful  consideration 
and  claims  our  assent,  but  no  further.  Does  Herodotus 
then,  the  father  of  profane  history,  tell  us  of  barbarous 
nations,  of  savage  tribes  and  hordes  ?  Yes :  and  there 
were  many  such  in  his  day,  as  there  were  in  the  days 
of  Polybius,  Diodorus  Siculus,  Cmsar,  Livy  and  Tacitus; 
and  as  there  have  been  ever  since.  But  what  says 
Herodotus  respecting  Assyria,  Phoenicia  and  Egypt  ? 
He  found  them,  indeed,  rapidly  losing  that  proud  pre¬ 
eminence  which  had  so  long  distinguished  them  among 
the  nations  of  the  earth.  Still  he  everywhere  beheld 
enough  of  magnificence  and  grandeur  to  overwhelm  him 
with  astonishment;  and  to  render  perfectly  credible  all 
that  was  told  him  of  their  ancient  greatness.  He  sur¬ 
veyed,  as  it  were-,  but  the  ruins  of  those  mighty  empires 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


125 


which  had  flourished  through  a  period  of  nearly  two 
thousand  years,  unrivalled  in  arts  and  science  and  let¬ 
ters  and  power  and  splendour,  and  which  had  already 
diffused  the  light  and  comforts  of  civilization  to  many 
rude  and  distant  nations 

Did  Herodotus  ascertain  that  the  Babylonians  or  Egyp¬ 
tians  had  ever  been  a  wandering,  fierce,  brutish,  hunting 
race,  similar  to  the  savage  or  half-savage  tribes  then  ex¬ 
isting  in  various  parts  of  Asia,  Europe  and  Africa?  He 
did  not.  Nor  is  there  a  single  fragment  of  authentic  his¬ 
tory  in  the  world,  which  intimates  that  those  celebrated 
nations  had  ever  been  destitute  of  the  usual  arts  and 
intelligence  of  civilized  life.  I  repeat,  that  the  romance 
of  poetry  is  not  to  enter  into  the  account:  nor  is  the 
metaphysic  of  philosophy  to  weigh  against  fact.  In  the 
days  of  Hesiod  and  Homer,  those  empires  were  in  the 
zenith  of  their  glory.  That  they  had  ever  been  other¬ 
wise  than  polished  and  enlightened  and  great  and  power¬ 
ful,  the  Greeks  did  not  know  and  could  not  prove.  Their 
poets,  philosophers  and  historians,  who,  at  later  periods, 
travelled  far  and  resided  long  in  the  East,  appear  to  have 
learned  but  little  of  their  early  history.  , 

We  have  then  no  historical  evidence  that  man  was 
ever  found  in  a  savage  state,  or  in  a  state  at  all  ap¬ 
proaching  the  savage,  in  the  countries  specified.  All 
the  evidence  of  history  goes  to  establish  the  contrary 
opinion.  As  far  back  as  we  can  trace  the  history  of 
the  Assyrians,  Phoenicians  and  Egyptians,  we  find  them 
civilized,  and  that  too  in  a  very  high  degree.  Now, 
what  right  have  we— supposing  we  could  extend  our 


126 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


researches  no  further— to  infer  that  they  were  ever 
otherwise  than  civilized?  or  that  their  ancestors  had 
been  savages?  None  at  all:  unless  it  could  be  proved 
that  these  were  not  the  most  ancient  nations  in  the 
world;  and  that  the  nations  from  which  they  sprung 
had  been  originally  savage.  This,  it  is  apprehended, 
none  will  attempt  to  prove.  History  then  confirms  the 
argument  grounded  on  Scripture  and  Reason. 

Should  it  be  objected,  that  the  proof  from  history  is 
merely  negative ;  that  though  it  establish  the  fact  of 
civilization  in  the  countries  already  mentioned,  up  to 
the  remotest  period  to  which  it  reaches,  yet  that  it 
leaves  us  in  the  dark  in  regard  to  their  earliest  con¬ 
dition  and  character:  I  answer,  that  it  is  clear,  direct 
and  positive,  so  far  as  it  touches  on  the  subject.  And 
this  is  sufficient  for  our  purpose.  If  history  cannot 
point  us  to  the  time  and  the  place  when  and  where  the 
most  ancient  inhabitants  of  the  earth  were  savages, 
then  history  utterly  fails  to  countenance  the  system  of 
those  who  maintain  that  the  savage  was  the  primeval 
state  of  mankind.  If  history  represent  the  most  ancient 
people  ever  known  in  the  world  as  civilized  at  the  time 
when  its  records  commence,  then  does  history  yield  all 
the  support  to  our  system  of  which  it  is  capable. 

It  is  much  to  be  lamented  that  all  the  ancient  archives 
of  Nineveh  and  Babylon  and  Tyre  and  Thebes  and  Mem¬ 
phis  have  perished.  For,  that  they  once  possessed  very 
ample  histories  and  annals,  we  have  abundant  testimony. 
Their  loss  is  but  poorly  supplied  by  the  comparatively 
modern  Greek  and  Jewish  historians,  or  by  the  Christian 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


127 


fathers.  It  is  to  the  Bible  chiefly,  that  we  must  have 
recourse  for  information  relative  to  all  that  vast  period 
which  elapsed  anterior  to  the  time  at  which  Herodotus 
commences  his  elaborate  and  interesting  history. 

Here  it  may  be  proper  to  remark,  that  after  the  more 
learned  of  the  Greeks  had  ascertained  their  own  origin, 
and  had  become  convinced  of  their  obligations  to  Egypt 
for  letters,  arts  and  philosophy,  they  then  indulged  in  a 
strain  of  eulogy  and  admiration  bordering  on  extrava¬ 
gance  whenever  they  had  occasion  to  speak  of  their  in¬ 
tercourse  with  that  marvellous  country.  Nor  did  they 
hesitate  to  assign  to  their  recently  discovered  instructors 
and  benefactors  the  most  remote,  as  well  as  the  most 
resplendent  antiquity.  “For  my  own  part  (says  Herod¬ 
otus)  I  am  of  opinion,  that  the  Egyptians  did  not  com¬ 
mence  their  origin  with  the  Delta,  but  from  the  first 
existence  of  the  human  race.”  (Euterpe,  15.) 

But,  in  the  absence  of  every  other  source  or  means  of 
information,  let  us  follow  the  sure  guidance  of  revelation. 
Or,  if  any  further  aid  from  revelation  be  refused  us,  inas¬ 
much  as  our  appeal  has  been  made  to  history ;  let  us 
recur  to  Moses  and  the  prophets  merely  as  historians, 
and  allow  them  to  be  as  trustworthy  as  other  historians, 
neither  more  nor  less.  And  less  credible,  they  will  not 
be  deemed  even  by  those  who  deny  them  the  infallibility 
of  plenary  inspiration. 

Moses  informs  us  that,  about  one  hundred  years  after 
the  deluge,  agreeably  to  the  Hebrew  chronology,  the  earth 
was  divided  among  the  descendants  of  Noah  according 


128 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


to  their  families,  tongues  and  nations.*  In  this  grand 
division — made,  we  presume,  by  Noah,  pursuant  to  the 
divine  command — Shem  had  the  south  of  Asia;  and  the 
Jews,  Arabs,  Persians,  Hindoos,  with  the  inhabitants  of 
farther  India  and  the  Asiatic  Isles,  are  numbered  among 
his  descendants.  Japheth  obtained  the  northern  and 
central  parts  of  Asia,  the  Isles  of  the  Gentiles  or  Europe ; 
and,  more  recently,  large  portions  of  America.  China, 
according  to  Sir  William  Jones,  was  originally  peopled 
by  a  colony  of  Hindoos,  with  which  their  neighbours  and 
conquerors,  the  Tartars,  afterwards  intermixed.  Japan 
was  very  anciently  peopled  from  China,  and  was  subse¬ 
quently  subdued  by  the  Tartars,  etc.  So  that  China  and 
Japan  are  now  inhabited  by  a  mixed  race  descending 
from  Shem  and  Japheth.  To  Ham  was  allotted  Africa, 
together  with  certain  districts  of  Asia.  The  mighty  em¬ 
pires  of  Assyria  and  Egypt,  the  commercial  republics  of 
Sidon,  Tyre  and  Carthage,  the  Philistines  and  other  na¬ 
tions  of  Palestine  or  Canaan  were  his  inheritance  and  his 
posterity.  From  him  also  are  probably  descended  the 
American  Indians. 

In  the  tenth  chapter  of  Genesis,  we  have  a  particular 


*  Whether  this  division  took  place  before  or  after  the  building  of 
Babel  is  disputed.  Bryant  says,  “that  there  were  two  memorable 
occurrences  in  ancient  history,  which  the  learned  have  been  apt  to 
consider  as  merely  one  event.  The  first  was  a  regular  migration  of 
mankind  in  general  by  divine  appointment :  the  second  was  the  dis¬ 
persion  of  the  Cuthites,  and  their  adherents,  who  had  acted  in  defiance 
of  this  ordination;”  that  the  Cuthites,  under  their  leader  Nimrod , 
refused  to  emigrate,  built  Babel,  were  punished,  and  scattered  abroad 
into  different  parts,  etc.  Hence  the  fables  of  the  Titans  and  Giants, 
etc. 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


129 


account  of  “the  generations  and  the  sons  of  Noah/’  and 
of  the  beginnings  of  many  cities  and  nations.  Thus, 
about  one  hundred  years  after  the  deluge,  Nimrod ,  the 
son  of  Cush  and  grandson  of  Ham,  commenced  his  career 
in  Shinar  as  a  mighty  warrior  and  conqueror.  Among 
other  cities  of  less  note,  he  built  or  began  to  build  Baby¬ 
lon,  afterwards  “the  glory  of  kingdoms,  and  the  beauty 
of  the  Chaldees’  excellency.”  Ashur ,  son  of  Shem  and 
grandson  of  Noah,  built  Nineveh,  and  gave  name  to  the 
empire  of  Assyria.  Or  if,  instead  of  the  common  version 
of  Gen.  x.  11,  “out  of  that  land  went  forth  Ashur,  and 
builded  Nineveh,”  we  adopt  the  marginal  reading,  which 
is  preferred  by  Bochart  and  other  learned  critics,  the  text 
will  stand  thus:  “Out  of  that  land  he  (Nimrod)  went 
forth  into  Assyria  and  built  Nineveh.”  This  is  probably 
the  true  reading.  It  better  accords  with  the  context, 
and  with  the  subsequent  fortunes  of  that  remarkable 
city,  and  of  Ham’s  posterity  generally.*  Ninus ,  its  re¬ 
puted  founder,  and  from  whom  it  was  named  according 
to  Oriental  tradition,  may  have  been  a  son  of  Nimrod, 
or  merely  another  name  for  Nimrod  himself.  But  how¬ 
ever  all  this  may  be,  there  is  no  doubt  that  Nineveh  was 
built  at  this  time,  or  about  one  hundred  and  thirty  years 
after  the  flood;  and  that  it  soon  became  an  exceedingly 
great,  magnificent  and  renowned  metropolis. 

Mizraim ,  {i.e.  the  family  of  Mezr,)  son  of  Ham,  peopled 
Egypt.  Throughout  Africa  and  the  East,  Egypt  is  to 
this  day  called  Mezr ,  and  the  Egyptians  Mezr  aim.  An- 

*  Bryant  dissents  from  Bochart,  and  very  ingeniously  defends  the 


common  version. 


130 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


oilier  son  of  Ham,  Canaan ,  peopled  the  land  of  Canaan, 
afterwards  Palestine,  or  the  promised  land — the  future 
home  of  the  Israelites.  Sidon ,  son  of  Canaan,  gave  name 
to  the  city  Sidon,  and  was  the  father  of  the  Sidonians. 
Vz ,  grandson  of  Shem,  is  supposed  to  have  settled  in 
Coelo-Syria,  and  to  have  been  the  founder  of  Damascus. 
This  famous  city,  by  whomsoever  built,  belongs  undoubt¬ 
edly  to  the  earliest  ages:  and  it  has  never  ceased  to  act 
a  conspicuous  part  at  every  epoch  of  Oriental  history, 
from  Abraham’s  time  to  the  present  day. 

We  thus  behold  the  inhabitants  of  this  new’  wTorld, 
going  forward  with  spirit  and  enterprise  to  build  cities 
and  to  form  civil  communities,  as  soon  as  their  numbers 
would  permit.  And  the  grandest  cities  which  have  ever 
existed,  at  least  since  the  deluge,  were  founded  soon  after 
that  event.  Nay,  they  actually  reached  the  highest  pitch 
of  povrer  and  splendour  within  a  very  few  centuries,  some 
of  them,  probably,  long  before  the  death  of  Noah.  Pro¬ 
fane  history  does  not  carry  us  back  to  the  period  at 
which  Nineveh  and  Babylon  and  fifty  other  cities  v7ere 
not  large  and  splendid.  Nor  can  it  tell  us  when  or  by 
whom  they  were  built;  or  wdiat  were  the  several  steps 
in  their  progress  to  greatness.  The  Bible  informs  us 
only  when  the  foundations  were  laid.  But  the  Bible 
ever  after  speaks  of  them  as  large  and  magnificent  cities. 
That  many  of  them  wrere  so  within  a  very  few  years  can¬ 
not  be  doubted.  As  soon  as  there  w^ere  people  enough 
in  the  world  to  build  cities,  it  might  be  expected  that 
they  would  build  them.  And  that  there  might  have 
been  a  population  of  hundreds  of  millions,  has  been 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


131 


shown  by  the  calculations  of  sundry  eminently  learned 
and  judicious  writers.  Should  any  persons,  however,  be 
inclined  to  demur  or  to  cavil  on  this  score,  they  are 
welcome  to  all  the  benefit  which  the  chronology  of  the 
Samaritan  Pentateuch  and  the  Septuagint  version  can 
afford  them.*  That  cities  should  have  been  built  during 
the  lifetime  of  a  single  monarch  or  patriarch,  or  by  a 
single  generation,  need  not  surprise  us.  Everybody 
knows  the  history  of  Alexandria  in  Egypt— and  of  the 
scores  of  cities  built  by  the  successors  of  the  Macedonian 
conqueror.  St.  Petersburg  too  is  a  modern  instance  of 
a  similar  kind.  And  as  to  American  cities — they  grow 
up  so  rapidly  and  so  abundantly,  that  no  mortal  pretends 
to  an  acquaintance  with  their  statistics  or  hardly  with 
their  geographical  positions. 

But  the  further  we  ascend  towards  the  commencement 
of  human  enterprise,  the  greater  do  we  find  the  combina¬ 
tion  of  skill  and  effort  in  the  production  of  imposing  and 
colossal  works  of  art.  Probably  the  labour  bestowed  on 
the  tower  of  Babel — certainly  that  bestowed  on  many  a 
structure  in  Egypt,  say  a  pyramid,  or  labyrinth,  or  tem¬ 
ple — would  suffice  to  build  a  modern  city  of  very  respect¬ 
able  dimensions.  The  truth  is,  for  several  centuries  after 
the  flood,  something  of  the  antediluvian  spirit  and  fashion 
seems  to  have  prevailed  among  mankind.  Everything 
was  designed  and  executed  on  a  grand  scale,  and  in  the 
most  durable  style.  It  is  immaterial  at  present  to  in¬ 
quire  what  could  have  induced  men,  in  those  early  ages, 

*  See  Dr.  Hales’s  New  Analysis  of  Chronology;  and  Dr.  Russell’s 
Connection  of  Sacred  and  Profane  History. 


132 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


to  unite  in  the  construction  of  such  massive  and  costly 
edifices.  Whether  it  was  the  result  of  voluntary  action 
on  the  part  of  the  labourers,  or  whether  it  was  the  effect 
of  despotic  power,  is  of  no  consequence  to  the  main  pur¬ 
pose  of  our  investigation.  Were  we  to  admit  that  the 
whole  was  the  work  of  slaves  —  that  all  the  mighty 
monuments  of  Asiatic  and  African  grandeur  were  the 
works  of  slaves — still,  this  would  no  more  prove  a  gen¬ 
eral  deficiency  in  science  or  the  arts,  than  the  existence 
of  slavery  in  our  own  free ,  happy  and  Christian  country, 
implies  a  want  of  knowledge,  skill  and  enterprise  in  the 
nation  at  large.  If  the  ancient  despots  of  the  East  pos¬ 
sessed  slaves  in  sufficient  numbers  to  convert  mountains 
of  granite  into  temples  and  statues,  it  would  not  follow, 
either  that  the  master  spirits ,  who  planned  and  directed 
such  gigantic  labours,  were  destitute  of  talent  and  sci¬ 
ence,  or  that  the  slaves  themselves  were  in  a  state  of 
misery  and  degradation  without  a  parallel  in  modem 
times,  even  in  the  most  enlightened  and  most  signally 
favoured  monarchies  and  republics. 

Conceding  all  that  has  been  said  and  written  about 
the  wretchedness  of  the  people  employed  in  those  ex¬ 
travagant  enterjnises  of  ancient  vanity  and  ambition  to 
be  strictly  true,  it  will  not  follow  that  those  people, 
however  wretched  they  may  have  been,  were  any  more 
wretched  than  certain  classes  of  human  creatures  in  other 
countries — than  the  peasantry,  the  serfs,  the  vassals,  the 
villains,  of  Christian  Europe — to  say  nothing  of  the  Afri¬ 
can  anomaly  in  Christian  America;  or  of  the  baser  castes 
throughout  India  under  the  gentle  protection  of  their 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  133 

most  gracious  Christian  benefactors.  The  moral  and 
political  condition  of  the  great  mass  of  the  (so  called) 
lower  orders  of  the  people,  under  the  different  European 
governments,  is  probably  elevated  but  little  above  that 
of  the  subjects  or  the  slaves  of  the  former  lords  of  Egypt 
and  Assyria. 

Multitudes  of  human  beings  may  be  found,  all  the 
world  over,  engaged  in  pursuits,  or  doomed  to  occupa¬ 
tions,  not  a  whit  more  rational  or  grateful  or  beneficial, 
than  were  the  wildest,  most  extravagant  or  most  onerous 
ever  devised  or  imposed  by  the  tyranny  or  superstition 
of  antiquity.  Were  men,  employed  in  the  construction 
of  a  pyramid,  for  instance — with  pay  or  without  it,  as 
slaves  or  as  hired  servants — likely  to  have  been  sub¬ 
jected  to  greater  hardships  and  privations,  or  to  a  more 
arbitrary  treatment,  than  are  the  soldiers  in  the  ranks 
of  a  modern  army?  or  than  the  sailors  on  board  a  man- 
of-war,  or  before  the  mast  of  a  merchant  ship?  or  than 
the  operatives  in  an  English  cotton  factory  or  upon  an 
American  cotton  plantation? 

We  do  injustice,  therefore,  to  the  ancient  Orientals, 
when,  from  the  assumed  misery  and  servile  condition  of 
the  lower  classes,  we  infer  a  corresponding  and  universal 
degradation  of  the  human  mind;  when  we  argue,  that, 
because  the  many  appear  to  have  been  ignorant  and  de¬ 
pressed,  therefore  the  few,  or  the  whole  must  have  been 
equally  destitute  of  intelligence,  sagacity,  wisdom,  science 
and  enterprise;  that  Abraham,  Joseph,  Moses  and  Job 
were  not  superior  to  the  vulgar  nomad  of  the  desert,  or 
to  the  murmuring  cowardly  Hebrew  herdsman.  We 


134 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


must  utterly  eschew  all  our  republican  logic  and  pre¬ 
judices  of  this  sort,  while  we  listen  to  the  truthful  voice 
of  universal  experience.  The  great  masses  of  mankind 
have,  at  all  times,  been  controlled  and  directed  and  fash¬ 
ioned  by  the  wisdom  or  the  cunning  or  the  will  of  the 
few.  And  it  is  the  character  of  the  few  which  invariably 
fixes  the  historic  character  of  every  age  and  of  every 
country.  The  light  of  science,  indeed,  may  be  diffused 
over  the  globe,  like  the  light  of  the  sun;  while  the  mil¬ 
lions  who  enjoy  the  benefits  of  both  are  as  incapable  of 
appreciating  the  one  as  of  comprehending  the  other. 
The  universities  of  the  Nile  and  the  Euphrates — in  the 
former  of  which  were  graduated  the  illustrious  Grecian 
masters,  Thales,  Pythagoras,  Eudoxus  and  Plato — may 
have  been  surrounded  by  illiteracy  and  rudeness,  as  were 
the  universities  of  the  Ilissus  and  the  Tiber  centuries 
later,  and  as  are  those  of  the  Cam  and  the  Isis,  of  the 
Pludson  and  the  Potomac,  at  the  present  day.  No  doubt, 
the  Newtons  and  the  Lockes,  the  Miltons  and  the  Sel- 
dens,  the  Fultons  and  the  Franklins  lived  and  laboured 
then,  as  they  have  done  since  and  are  doing  still,  among 
a  people  not  quite  their  peers  in  intellect  or  accomplish¬ 
ments.  Such  extremes  and  contrasts  have  always  and 
everywhere  prevailed.  And  they  do  not  affect  the  ques¬ 
tion  about  the  civilization  of  any  country,  ancient  or 
modern. 

Thus,  France  is  a  civilized  country;  and  yet  there  are 
millions  of  Frenchmen  who  do  not  know  the  alphabet. 
But,  in  thus  applying  the  term  civilized ,  we  do  not  stop 
to  discriminate  between  the  courtly  Parisian  savant  and 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


135 


the  roughest  provincial  peasant.  We  pronounce  the 
French  nation,  a  civilized  nation,  and  justly; — as  we  do 
the  American  republic — without  excepting  the  three  or 
four  hundred  thousand  white  persons  over  twenty  years 
of  age,  who,  according  to  the  recent  census,  cannot  write 
or  read.  For  even  these,  uncultivated  as  they  are,  rise 
incomparably  above  the  wild  Indian  and  stupid  Hotten¬ 
tot.  And  we  mean  the  same  thing  when  we  speak  of 
the  civilization  of  ancient  Egypt  or  Phoenicia.  The 
whole  people  were  civilized,  as  contrasted  with  savages; 
whatever  distinctions  may  have  obtained  among  them¬ 
selves,  or  however  vast  the  distance  between  either 
classes  or  individuals. 

Again,  there  are  diverse  forms  as  well  as  degrees  of 
civilization.  Asiatic  civilization  has  assumed  a  different 
type  from  the  European;  and,  for  centuries  past,  has 
ranked  much  lower  in  degree.  The  civilization  of  China 
is  very  unlike  that  of  Germany,  and  probably  much  infe¬ 
rior  to  it.  Yet,  no  person  would  confound  the  Chinese 
with  the  aborigines  of  New  Holland,  any  more  than  he 
would  consign  the  Germans  to  the  same  category  with 
the  natives  of  Congo  and  Oregon.  I  resort  to  this  spe¬ 
cies  of  illustration  to  avoid  any  misapprehension  about 
the  precise  meaning  of  the  word  civilization.  Of  this 
word,  I  have  attempted  no  definition.  I  use  it  as  cus¬ 
tom  has  authorized.  I  speak  of  civilized  nations  and 
savage  tribes,  as  existing  facts,  well  known  and  univer¬ 
sally  understood.  If  there  be  any  nations  or  tribes  in 
a  transition  or  doubtful  state — so  that  they  would  not, 
by  common  consent,  be  assigned  to  the  one  or  the 


136 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


other  of  these  grand  divisions — I  leave  them  out  of  the 
account. 

I  assert  then,  that  the  most  ancient  Egyptians  known 
to  history  were  civilized:  as  truly  so,  as  were  ever  the 
Greeks  or  the  Romans,  or  as  now  are  the  Britons  or  the 
Italians.  With  forms  and  degrees,  I  repeat,  I  have  no 
controversy.  Pass  what  sentence  you  please  upon  the 
remnants  and  ruins  of  Egyptian  architecture,  sculpture 
and  painting;  you  will  never  pronounce  them  the  work 
of  savages.  The  builders  of  the  stupendous  temples  at 
Thebes  and  Tentyra  may  possibly  suffer  somewhat  in 
comparison  with  the  artists  who  designed  and  embel¬ 
lished  St.  Peter’s  and  St.  Paul’s  at  Rome  and  London; 
but  no  man  will  be  hardy  enough  to  insinuate  that  the 
former  were  savages. 

But  to  return,  for  a  moment,  to  the  scriptural  history. 
Whoever  will  peruse  the  Mosaic  account  of  mankind, 
during  the  first  ages  after  the  flood,  will  discover  no 
trace  of  barbarism,  and  no  deficiency  in  the  arts  of  civil¬ 
ized  life.  So  early  as  the  time  of  Abraham,  we  find  a 
king  in  Egypt  of  the  common  name  of  Pharaoh,  and  a 
civil  polity  established,  apparently  of  the  same  general 
character  with  that  which  prevailed  in  the  days  of 
Joseph  and  Moses,  and  which  probably  continued  until 
the  Persian  conquest.  The  kingdom  abounded  in  agri¬ 
cultural  products,  and  afforded  ample  relief  to  strangers 
in  seasons  of  famine.  Moses  represents  the  sovereign, 
who  reigned  at  the  time  of  the  patriarch’s  temporary 
sojourn  in  that  then  most  fertile  and  hospitable  country, 
as  a  powerful  and  magnificent  monarch,  surrounded  by 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


137 


liis  princes  and  officers  of  state,  maintaining  a  splendid 
and  luxurious  court,  and  exhibiting  also  much  more 
magnanimity  and  moral  principle  than  is  usually  to  be 
met  with  in  crowned  heads  among  the  ancients  or  the 
moderns.  Several  writers,  particularly  Goguet  and  War- 
burton,  have  contrasted  the  circumstances  of  Abraham’s 
journey  into  Egypt  and  of  his  dismission  by  Pharaoh, 
with  those  of  a  similar  adventure  on  the  part  of  Isaac 
with  Abimelecli,  styled  king  of  Gerar, — in  which  the 
superiority  of  an  Egyptian  monarch  over  a  petty  Philis¬ 
tine  sheik  or  chief  is  strikingly  manifested. 

In  the  days  of  Jacob,  the  caravan  of  Islimaelite  mer¬ 
chants  from  Gilead,  “with  their  camels  bearing  spicery, 
and  balm,  and  myrrh,”  and  their  ready  purchase  of 
Joseph  as  a  slave,  sufficiently  indicate  the  nature  of  the 
market  which  Egypt  then  presented  for  the  rarest  com¬ 
modities,  as  wTell  as  the  safe  and  regular  manner  in  which 
the  overland  foreign  commerce  was  conducted.  We  read 
of  a  captain  of  Pharaoh’s  guard,  of  a  chief  butler  and 
baker,  and  other  important  functionaries — of  a  distinct 
priesthood — of  a  prison,  “where  the  king’s  prisoners  were 
bound” — of  “magicians  and  wise  men” — and  of  sundry 
curious  facts  and  incidents,  rather  casually  glanced  at 
than  directly  stated  in  the  general  narrative.  “And 
Pharaoh  took  off  his  ring  from  his  hand,  and  put  it  upon 
Joseph’s  hand,  and  arrayed  him  in  vestures  of  fine  linen, 
and  put  a  gold  chain  about  his  neck;  and  he  made  him 
to  ride  in  the  second  chariot  which  he  had,”  etc.;  all 
evincing  much  luxury  and  refinement.  And  in  the 
cities  for  the  laying  up  of  stores  and  provisions  for  the 


138  MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


approaching  seven  years  of  famine,  we  see  the  effects  of 
wise  government  and  of  great  national  opulence.  Soon 
after  Joseph’s  death,  we  find  the  power  and  grandeur  of 
the  kingdom  very  significantly  illustrated  in  the  employ¬ 
ment  of  the  enslaved  Israelites  in  building  treasure  cities, 
and  in  preparing  materials  for  splendid  public  edifices. 
“Indeed,  (adds  Warburton,)  if  we  may  believe  St.  Paul, 
this  kingdom  was  chosen  by  God  to  be  the  scene  of  all 
his  wonders,  in  support  of  his  elect  people,  for  this  very 
reason,  that  through  the  celebrity  of  so  famed  an  empire, 
the  power  of  the  true  God  might  be  spread  abroad,  and 
strike  the  observation  of  the  whole  habitable  world. 
‘For  the  Scripture  saith  unto  Pharaoh,  Even  for  this 
same  purpose  have  I  raised  thee  up,  that  I  might  show 
my  power  in  thee,  and  that  my  name  might  be  declared 
throughout  all  the  earth.’”  (Eom.  ix.  17.) 

The  description  of  the  Egyptian  priesthood  by  Diodo¬ 
rus  Siculus  is  worthy  of  notice  in  this  connexion.  “The 
whole  country  being  divided  into  three  parts;  the  first 
belongs  to  the  body  of  priests,  an  order  in  the  highest 
reverence  among  their  countrymen,  for  their  piety  to  the 
gods,  and  their  consummate  wisdom,  acquired  by  the 
best  education,  and  the  closest  application  to  the  im¬ 
provement  of  the  mind.  With  their  revenues  they 
supply  all  Egypt  with  public  sacrifices;  they  support  a 
number  of  inferior  officers,  and  maintain  their  own  fami¬ 
lies  :  for  the  Egyptians  think  it  utterly  unlawful  to  make 
any  change  in  their  public  worship;  but  hold  that  every¬ 
thing  should  be  administered  by  their  priests,  in  the 
same  constant,  invariable  manner.  Nor  do  they  deem 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


139 


it  at  all  fitting  that  those,  to  whose  cares  the  public  is  so 
much  indebted,  should  want  the  common  necessaries  of 
life :  for  the  priests  are  constantly  attached  to  the  person 
of  the  king,  as  his  coadjutors,  counsellors  and  instructors 
in  the  most  weighty  matters.  For  it  is  not  among  them 
as  with  the  Greeks,  where  one  single  man  or  woman 
exercises  the  office  of  the  priesthood.  Here  a  body  or 
society  is  employed  in  sacrificing  and  other  rites  of  pub¬ 
lic  worship,  who  transmit  their  profession  to  their  chil¬ 
dren.  This  order,  likewise,  is  exempt  from  all  charges 
and  imposts,  and  holds  the  second  honours,  under  the 
king,  in  the  public  administration.”  Moses  also  tells  us 
that  the  Egyptian  priests  were  a  distinct  and  superior 
order,  and  had  an  established  landed  revenue;  that  when 
the  famine  raged  so  severely  that  the  people  were  com¬ 
pelled  to  sell  their  estates  to  the  crown  for  bread,  the 
priests  still  retained  theirs  unalienated,  and  were  sup¬ 
plied  with  corn  gratuitously  from  the  public  stores. 
a Only  the  land  of  the  priests  bought  he  not:  for  the 
priests  had  a  portion  assigned  them  of  Pharaoh,  and  did 
eat  their  portion  which  Pharaoh  gave  them:  wherefore 
they  sold  not  their  lands.”  (Gen.  xlvii.  22.)  Diodorus 
gives  us  the  reason  of  this  indulgence,  and  corroborates 
the  scriptural  history;  or,  rather,  is  himself  sustained  by 
this  venerable  authority — although  ignorant,  probably, 
of  its  existence. 

Herodotus  says  the  inhabitants  of  Heliopolis  were 
deemed  in  his  time  the  most  ingenious  of  all  the  Egyp¬ 
tians.  The  schools  of  its  priesthood  were  famous  for 
wisdom  and  learning.  And  Strabo,  even  so  late  as  the 


140 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


beginning  of  the  Christian  era,  speaks  of  certain  stately 
edifices  as  still  remaining  in  that  ancient  city,  which, 
as  it  was  reported,  had  formerly  been  occupied  by  the 
priests,  who  cultivated  the  studies  of  philosophy  and 
astronomy.  This  statement  is  incidentally  confirmed 
by  Moses.  When  Joseph  was  created  grand  vizier  or 
prime  minister  of  Egypt,  Pharaoh  “gave  him  to  wife, 
Asenath,  the  daughter  of  Poti-phera,  priest  of  On”  or 
Heliopolis.  All  the  circumstances  of  the  case  plainly 
show  that  the  king  was  then  disposed  to  do  Joseph  the 
highest  honour :  and  the  sound  policy  of  this  distin¬ 
guished  alliance  is  apparent  from  the  passages  already 
cited  from  the  Greek  historians.  The  sudden  and  ex¬ 
traordinary  elevation  of  a  stranger,  over  the  heads  of 
the  hereditary  administrators  of  public  affairs,  might 
have  proved  a  dangerous  experiment.  The  introduc¬ 
tion  of  Joseph,  therefore,  into  their  own  priestly  order 
by  marriage,  was  probably  the  best,  if  not  the  only  ex¬ 
pedient,  calculated  to  allay  their  envy  and  prejudices, 
and  to  secure  their  cordial  support  and  co-operation. 

It  is  worthy  of  remark  also,  that,  throughout  this 
whole  period  from  Abraham  to  Moses,  the  Scripture 
represents  Egypt  as  an  entire  kingdom  under  one  mon¬ 
arch,  and  not  as  distributed  into  a  number  of  petty  inde¬ 
pendent  sovereignties,  as  most  modern  historians,  from 
the  imperfect  traditions  detailed  by  the  Greeks,  would 
lead  us  to  believe.  That  Egypt  might,  in  after  times, 
have  been  thus  temporarily  divided  among  several 
tyrants  or  competitors  for  the  throne,  or  that  the  pow¬ 
erful  nobles  or  military  commanders  might,  during  the 


t 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


141 


reign  of  a  weak  prince  or  the  minority  of  a  young  one, 
or  at  any  other  favourable  crisis,  have  seized  upon  the 
crown  and  shared  its  honours  among  them,  is  very  prob¬ 
able,  and  will  account  for  the  stories  found  in  many 
writers  about  the  confusions  of  ancient  Egypt.  Domestic 
feuds  and  animosities  may  have  commenced  at  or  soon 
after  the  exodus  of  the  Israelites.  At  any  rate,  the  pro¬ 
phets  Isaiah  and  Ezekiel,  centuries  later,  when  predict¬ 
ing  the  desolation  of  Egypt  by  the  Babylonians,  speak  of 
internal  commotions  and  divisions  as  the  principal  cause 
of  her  deplorable  weakness,  and  of  her  forty  years’  endur¬ 
ance  of  the  most  dreadful  calamities  ever  inflicted  upon 
a  conquered  enemy.  “And  I  will  set  the  Egyptians 
against  the  Egyptians;  and  they  shall  fight  every  one 
against  his  brother,  and  every  one  against  his  neigh¬ 
bour;  city  against  city,  and  kingdom  against  kingdom.” 
(Is.  xix.  2.)  “And  I  will  make  the  land  of  Egypt  deso¬ 
late  in  the  midst  of  the  countries  that  are  desolate,  and 
her  cities  among  the  cities  that  are  laid  waste  shall  be 
desolate  forty  years :  and  I  will  scatter  the  Egyptians 
among  the  nations,  and  will  disperse  them  through  the 
countries.”  (Ezek.  xxix.  12.)  We  must  not  confound 
the  early  with  the  later  history  of  Egypt. 

Nor  are  we  to  forget  that,  however  much  of  error  or 
fiction  may  have  found  its  way  into  their  historical  state¬ 
ments,  the  more  intelligent  and  travelled  Greeks,  with 
one  voice,  assigned  to  Egypt  both  the  remotest  antiquity 
and  the  highest  wisdom  and  learning.  Herodotus  says 
that  the  •  Egyptians  were  the  wisest  of  all  nations,  and 
that  they  were  never  beholden  for  anything  to  the  Gre- 


142 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS 


cians;  but  on  the  contrary,  that  Greece  had  borrowed 
largely  from  Egypt.  All  the  Hebrew  records  support 
the  Grecian  evidence  for  the  extreme  antiquity  and  pre¬ 
eminent  wisdom  of  the  Egyptians.  Thus,  Isaiah,  in 
denouncing  the  divine  judgments  against  this  people : 
“  Surely  the  princes  of  Zoan  (or  Tanis)  are  fools,  the 
counsel  of  the  wise  counsellors  of  Pharaoh  is  become 
brutish :  how  say  ye  unto  Pharaoh,  I  am  the  son  of  the 
wise,  the  son  of  ancient  kings  ?  Where  are  they  ?  Where 
are  thy  wise  men?”  (Is.  xix.  12.) 

I  transcribe  the  following  paragraph  from  Warburton, 
chiefly  as  furnishing  a  curious  specimen  of  a  kind  of  rea¬ 
soning  which  is  always  convenient  to  the  system-maker, 
and  in  the  main  abundantly  satisfactory  to  the  general 
reader.  “This  superior  nobility  of  the  priests  of  On  or 
Heliopolis  seems  to  have  been  chiefly  owing  to  their  higher 
antiquity.  Heliopolis,  or  the  City  of  the  Sun,  was  the 
place  where  that  luminary  was  principally  worshipped; 
and  certainly,  from  the  most  early  times:  for  Diodorus 
tells  us  that,  ‘the  first  gods  of  Egypt  were  the  sun  and 
moon the  truth  of  which,  all  this  laid  together  remark¬ 
ably  confirms.  Now  if  we  suppose,  as  is  very  reasonable, 
that  the  first  established  priests  in  Egypt  were  those 
dedicated  to  the  sun  at  On,  we  shall  not  be  at  a  loss 
to  account  for  their  titles  of  nobility.  Strabo  says,  they 
were  much  given  to  astronomy;  and  this  too  we  can 
easily  believe :  for  what  more  likely  than  that  they 
should  be  fond  of  the  study  of  that  system,  over  which 
their  god  presided,  not  only  in  his  moral  but  in  his  natu¬ 
ral  capacity?  For  whether  they  received  the  doctrine 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


143 


from  original  tradition,  or  whether  they  invented  it  at 
hazard,  which  is  more  likely,  in  order  to  exalt  this  their 
visible  god,  by  giving  him  the  post  of  honour,  it  is  cer¬ 
tain  they  taught  that  the  sun  was  in  the  centre  of  its 
system,  and  that  all  the  other  bodies  moved  round  it,  in 
perpetual  revolutions.  This  noble  theory  came  with  the 
rest  of  the  Egyptian  learning  into  Greece,  being  carried 
thither  by  Pythagoras;  who,  it  is  remarkable,  received  it 
from  CEnuphis,  a  priest  of  Heliopolis,  and,  after  having 
given  the  most  distinguished  lustre  to  his  school,  it  sunk 
into  obscurity,  and  suffered  a  total  eclipse  throughout  a 
long  succession  of  learned  and  unlearned  ages;  till  these 
times  relumed  its  ancient  splendour,  and  immovably  fixed 
it  on  the  most  unerring  principles  of  science.” 

As  to  the  very  accommodating  hypothesis  or  rather 
conjecture,  that  the  Egyptian  professors  may  have  ain- 
vented  at  hazard”  the  sublime  astronomical  doctrine, 
taught  in  Greece  by  their  accomplished  pupil  Pytha¬ 
goras— a  doctrine  which  never  obtained  currency  among 
the  Greeks — which  subsequently,  and  after  the  lapse  of 
more  than  twenty  centuries,  was  revived  by  Copernicus, 
and  finally  demonstrated  by  Newton — the  philosophers 
are  heartily  welcome  to  all  the  capital  they  can  make  of 
it.  They  must  concede,  at  the  least,  that  the  Egyptian 
sages  were  shrewd  and  lucky  guessers ;  and  that  their 
inventions  at  hazard  were  not  always  to  be  despised. 
With  all  becoming  deference,  however,  to  great  names, 
and  to  superior  erudition,  I  should  venture  to  reverse 
the  order;  and  to  assume  that  their  orthodox  astronomi¬ 
cal  faith  was  grounded  upon  real  science;  and  that  the 


144 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


science  preceded  tlie  popular  superstition,  and  gave  rise 
to  it.  When  or  hoiv  they  acquired  this  wonderful  sci¬ 
ence,  which  ice  are  only  just  beginning  to  learn — whether 
they  derived  it  from  Noah,  and  he  from  the  father  and 
first  great  teacher  of  mankind — or  whether  some  gifted 
Galileo  or  Newton  among  themselves  was  its  happy 
author — it  were  bootless  to  speculate.  It  is  much  easier 
to  account  for  its  ultimate  and  total  disappearance — 
even  long  before  the  superstition  which  it  generated 
had,  in  any  degree,  relaxed  its  ghostly  dominion  over 
the  popular  mind.  The  science  itself  may  never  have 
passed  the  limits  of  the  sacerdotal  colleges  and  royal 
observatories  where  it  was  studied  and  cherished;  while 
the  superstition  was  diffused  among  all  ranks  and  em¬ 
braced  by  the  whole  people. 

The  science,  moreover,  may  have  become  obsolete  or 
been  lost  among  its  privileged  guardians  and  deposit¬ 
aries  prior  even  to  the  dissolution  of  their  priestly  order. 
These  may  have  neglected  their  high  vocation  as  teach¬ 
ers  and  students — as  has  often  happened  in  similar  cor¬ 
porations  since — from  indolence,  from  the  absence  of  all 
external  stimulus  or  exciting  motive,  or  from  luxurious 
habits  of  self-indulgence:  and  thereafter,  they  may  have 
been  content  with  the  results,  the  tables,  rules,  formulae 
and  calculations,  already  provided  by  their  more  diligent 
and  faithful  predecessors.  They  might  continue  to  know 
the  fact,  and  to  believe  the  theory  of  the  true  solar  sys¬ 
tem;  just  as  multitudes  of  modern  gownsmen  know  and 
believe,  without  being  able  to  advance  a  single  step  to- 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


145 


wards  the  actual  demonstration.  At  any  rate,  the  science 
must  have  perished  beneath  the  desolating  sweep  of  the 
Persian  invader,  who  madly  sought  to  bury,  in  the  ruins 
of  the  temple  and  the  palace,  the  religion,  the  learning, 
the  arts  and  the  glory  of  Egypt.  The  superstition,  in¬ 
deed,  survived  the  rage,  the  fire  and  the  sword  of  the 
ruthless  victor.  But  the  light  of  science  was  utterly 
extinguished;  and  its  votaries  were  silenced  forever. 
The  later  Greeks  had  ample  opportunities  to  witness 
all  the  revolting  absurdities  of  the  Egyptian  idolatry; 
while  they  could  hear  only  a  faint  traditionary  whisper 
of  that  splendid  intellectual  inheritance  which  had  once 
adorned,  enriched  and  exalted  the  Egyptian  name  above 
every  other  in  the  ancient  world. 

But,  inasmuch  as  the  bigoted  Persians  destroyed  or 
rather  annihilated  all  the  written  records,  the  libraries, 
books,  archives,  chronicles,  annals — all  the  scientific  ap¬ 
paratus  and  collections — which  had  been  accumulating 
undisturbed  for  two  thousand  years;  we,  forsooth,  are 
not  to  believe  that  the  Egyptians  ever  possessed  either 
literature  or  science !  And  we  should,  no  doubt,  be 
equally  incredulous  about  Egyptian  art,  were  it  not  for 
the  still  living  and  still  speaking  witnesses  in  every  part 
of  the  land,  upon  either  bank  of  the  mysterious  Nile, 
from  the  cataracts  to  the  Mediterranean.  But  for  these 
stubborn  monuments,  we  should  very  logically  conclude, 
that  the  present  half- human  Copts  are  fair  specimens 
of  Pharaoh’s  wise  men — the  instructors  of  Moses  and 
Cecrops,  of  Solon  and  Pythagoras !  And  we  are  the 
vol.  m. — 10 


146 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


more  especially  predisposed  to  favour  this  mode  of  rea¬ 
soning,  since  it  is  everywhere  gravely  asserted,  that  the 
East  is  unchangeable,  and  has  never  changed; — that 
habits,  manners,  usages,  all  things  remain  just  as  they 
were  a  score  of  centuries  ago.  So  that  whatever  a  gal¬ 
loping  traveller  or  fashionable  tourist  happens  to  encoun¬ 
ter  or  to  espy,  is  incontinently  jotted  down  as  a  verita¬ 
ble  fac  simile  of  what  existed  in  the  days  of  Abraham 
or  Solomon;  —  as  if  invariable  uniformity  and  absolute 
stability  were  predicahle  of  regions  which  have  under¬ 
gone  more  revolutions,  reverses,  exterminating  wars  and 
plagues  of  all  sorts — political,  moral,  religious  and  physi¬ 
cal — than  any  other  portions  of  the  globe.  It  is  time 
that  this  folly  were  rebuked,  and  that  its  abettors  were 
sent  to  school. 

I  have  said  more  of  Egypt  than  my  argument  strictly 
demands.  To  show  that  Egypt  was  always  civilized,  and 
never  otherwise — without  claiming  for  it  any  extraordi¬ 
nary  excellence  or  superiority — was  abundantly  sufficient 
to  sustain  the  proposition  which  I  have  essayed  to  de¬ 
monstrate.*  Incidentally,  I  have  adverted  to  a  few  par- 


*  Bryant  indeed  maintains,  that  the  Mizraim,  with  their  brethren 
the  sons  of  Phut,  migrated  to  their  place  of  allotment,  the  Upper 
Egypt,  a  long  time  before  the  rebellion  at  Babel ;  that  they  there  led 
a  simple,  rude,  half-savage  kind  of  life  for  several  ages ;  that  they 
were  at  length  conquered  and  civilized  by  their  brethren  the  Guthites 
(the  Titanic  brood,  as  he  styles  them,)  after  they  had  been  driven 
from  Babylonia,  etc. — His  authorities,  Diodorus  Siculus  among  them, 
do  not  seem  to  warrant  his  hypothesis.  But  if  admitted  to  be  true, 
it  would  not  invalidate  our  theory  in  the  slightest  degree.  It  would 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  147 


ticulars  which  seem  to  indicate  a  very  high  order  and 
degree  of  civilization.  And  much  more,  tending  to  the 
same  result,  might  easily  be  adduced.  Ever  since  the 
temporary  occupancy  of  Egypt  by  the  French,  under 
Napoleon,  the  ruins  of  her  pristine  grandeur  have  been 
a  study  for  the  most  profoundly  learned,  sagacious  and 
philosophical  antiquarians  of  Europe.  They  have  not 
only  visited  the  several  remarkable  localities,  but  have 
patiently,  perseveringly  and  laboriously  explored,  inves¬ 
tigated,  deciphered,  measured,  compared,  classified — until 
they  have  become  familiar  with  the  aspect,  features,  mag¬ 
nitude,  proportions  and  style  of  those  marvellous  crea¬ 
tions,  which  have  resisted  and  survived  the  convulsions 
and  the  Vandalism  of  a  hundred  generations;  and  which 
seem  destined  to  speak  of  the  primeval  ages  and  of  the 
Pharaohs  to  the  latest  posterity.  But  into  this  tempting 
and  opulent  field,  we  must  not  venture.  The  pen  and 
the  pencil,  however,  have  nobly  accomplished  their  proper 
task;  and  volumes,  full  of  instruction  and  of  the  most 


merely  change  a  little  the  order  of  events.  It  would  show  that  the 
first  settlers  in  a  part  of  Egypt  had  greatly  degenerated  for  a  season : 
and  that  they  were  afterwards  instructed  and  reclaimed  by  a  colony 
direct  from  the  fatherland — the  original  seat  and  fountain  of  civiliza¬ 
tion.  Should  all  our  facts  and  reasoning  about  Egypt  be  questioned 
or  rejected,  still  our  main  position  remains  impregnable  and  unaf¬ 
fected.  It  can  never  be  demolished,  until  it  be  proved  that  there  was 
a  time  when  civilization  was  unknown,  and  nowhere  existed ;  or  when 
all  the  inhabitants  of  our  globe  were  savages.  The  philosophy  which 
traces  the  civilized  up  to  the  savage  state,  or  which  deduces  the  former 
from  the  latter,  demands  this :  and  nothing  less  will  meet  the  demand. 
Otherwise,  the  whole  affair  is  a  mere  “controversia  verbi.” 


148 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


intensely  exciting  interest;  are  now  within  the  reach  of 
every  man,  who  has  the  curiosity  to  read  one  of  the  most 
astonishing,  as  well  as  edifying  passages  in  the  history 
of  our  race.  Not  only  do  these  recent  researches  fully 
confirm  all  the  statements  of  the  Hebrew  and  classical 
authors;  but  they  add  immensely  to  the  previously  con¬ 
ceded  number  and  variety  of  arts  and  sciences,  useful 
and  liberal,  which  must  have  been  cultivated  and  prac¬ 
tised  by  the  older  Egyptians.  It  is  difficult,  indeed,  to 
discover  wherein  they  were  deficient,  or  inferior  to  the 
modern  European,  while,  in  some  respects,  it  is  manifest 
they  remain  still  unrivalled  and  peerless. 

We  are  now  able  to  comprehend  and  to  appreciate  the 
meaning  of  the  significant  scriptural  phrase — “the  wis¬ 
dom  of  the  Egyptians;”  and  the  reason  why  Moses  and 
the  Grecian  sages  frequented  their  schools;  and  why, 
moreover,  the  latter  spent  so  many  years,  not  merely  at 
one  college,  but  oftentimes  at  different  colleges,  according 
to  the  objects  which  they  had  in  view  or  the  sciences  to 
be  acquired,  before  they  deemed  their  education  finished , 
or  aspired  to  the  honours  of  graduation.  Thus,  Lycurgus 
and  Solon,  the  most  eminent  lawgivers  among  the  Greeks, 
appear  to  have  visited  Egypt,  chiefly  to  enlarge  their  ac¬ 
quaintance  with  the  great  principles  of  civil  government 
and  jurisprudence.  The  latter,  as  Plutarch  informs  us, 
received  much  useful  instruction,  on  various  important 
doctrines  of  philosophy  and  politics,  from  the  priests 
at  Sais.  Thales  and  Eudoxus  studied  mathematics  at 
Memphis.  Pythagoras  learned  astronomy  at  Heliopolis. 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


149 


Thence  he  passed  successively  to  the  other  most  re¬ 
nowned  seminaries;  in  which,  for  twenty-two  years,  he 
prosecuted  his  inquiries,  at  the  feet  and  under  the  guid¬ 
ance  of  the  learned  Gamaliels  of  the  day,  with  the  most 
untiring  patience,  docility,  perseverance  and  enthusiasm. 
After  this  pretty  thorough  novitiate  in  Egypt,  and  after 
travelling  into  Chaldsea,  Persia  and  Phoenicia  in  quest 
of  knowledge,  he  returned  to  his  own  native  Samos — 
there  to  be  persecuted  by  the  same  fell  spirit  of  igno¬ 
rance,  envy,  prejudice  and  bigotry,  which,  in  a  later  and 
Christian  age,  haunted  and  embittered  the  existence  of 
Roger  Bacon  and  Galileo.  Finally,  he  established  a 
school  of  his  own  at  Crotona  in  Italy.  And  Plato  too, 
the  devoted  disciple  of  Socrates  during  eight  happy 
years,  then  a  student  of  the  Pythagorean  philosophy 
in  Magna  Gnucia,  and  of  various  sciences  at  other  dis¬ 
tinguished  foreign  schools,  thought  it  necessary  to  attend 
the  lectures  of  the  Egyptian  professors  also,  before  he 
opened  his  own  famous  Academy  at  Athens.  Yerily, 
the  Grecian  scholars  must  have  been  sorry  lads,  or  they 
could  hardly  have  contrived  to  lounge  away  their  entire 
youth  and  some  ten  or  twenty  years  of  mature  manhood, 
among  a  set  of  dreamy  pedagogues,  who,  agreeably  to 
the  vulgar  faith,  would  have  disgraced  the  old  field 
schools  of  our  own  unparalleled  Virginia!  We,  however, 
with  these  and  many  similar  facts  on  record,  should,  in 
our  extreme  simplicity,  be  disposed  to  think  it  impos¬ 
sible  for  the  most  intrepid  skepticism  to  deny  to  ancient 
Egypt  the  palm  of  pre-eminent  wisdom  and  learning. 


150  MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


Of  such  pupils  as  Moses  and  Plato,  her  universities  may 
have  well  been  proud.  And  from  the  works  and  repu¬ 
tation  of  the  pupil  we  may  still  judge  of  the  master. 

And  if  we  bear  in  mind,  that  even  Plato  and  most 
of  the  other  Greeks  did  not  visit  Egypt  until  after  the 
Babylonian  and  Persian  invasions,  when  only  the  wreck 
of  her  former  science  remained,  we  shall  be  able  to  make 
some  equitable  allowance  for  the  fragmentary  character 
of  their  reports,  and  for  the  seeming  contradictions  and 
even  absurdities  which  we  occasionally  find  in  their 
writings. 

07  quam  te  clicam  bonam 
Antehac  fuisse,  tales  cum  sint  reliquiae  ? 

But  this  paper  must  have  an  end.  In  preparing  it,  I 
have  felt  the  difficulty  of  selection  from  the  great  mass 
of  materials  at  hand,  and  especially  of  compressing  within 
the  limits  of  a  readable  article  a  small  portion  of  the 
most  prominent  and  pertinent  facts  which  abound  in 
ancient  authors.  These,  if  judiciously  arranged  and 
fairly  interpreted,  could  scarcely  fail  to  dissipate  much 
of  the  prejudice,  error  and  skepticism  which  prevail  on 
this  subject.  I  had  designed  to  bring  under  review  the 
arts  and  sciences  actually  known  among  the  earliest 
postdiluvian  nations;  and  to  offer  a  few  brief  comments 
upon  their  literature,  manners,  customs,  laws,  religion 
and  peculiar  institutions.  I  had  also  marked  a  number 
of  passages  in  sundry  modern  writers,  with  a  view  to 
point  out  the  inconclusiveness  of  their  reasoning,  and  its 
inconsistency  oftentimes  with  the  very  premises  which 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  151 


they  themselves  admit.  How  much  learned  ingenuity, 
for  example,  has  not  been  expended  in  attempts  to  de¬ 
preciate  or  to  get  rid  of  the  Egyptian  claims  to  any 
respectable  degree  of  proficiency  in  astronomy,  mathe¬ 
matics,  chemistry,  metallurgy,  physics,  anatomy,  naviga¬ 
tion,  geography,  architecture,  engraving,  sculpture,  paint¬ 
ing,  etc.,  merely  because  an  arbitrary  and  inexorable 
theory  seemed  to  demand  a  vastly  longer  time  for  such 
high  attainments  than  any  authentic  history  could  fur¬ 
nish  ? 

I  conclude  then  with  the  remark,  that  if  the  Egyp¬ 
tians,  Assvrians  and  Phoenicians  never  existed  in  a  sav- 
age  state;  if  their  immediate  progenitors,  up  to  the  age 
of  Noah,  wrere,  like  himself,  civilized  (and  we  proved,  as 
we  think,  on  a  previous  occasion,  that  man  was  created 
a  civilized  being,  and  thus  continued  down  to  the  miracu¬ 
lous  dispersion  from  Babel) — then  it  follows,  that  history 
cannot  conduct  us  back  to  a  period  when  the  whole 
human  race  was  savage;  and  consequently,  that  the 
philosophic  and  popular  doctrine,  that  the  savage  was 
the  original  or  primeval  condition  of  mankind  is  inde¬ 
fensible; — that  it  is  a  mere  gratuitous  and  baseless 
assumption;— and  that  the  entire  fabric,  constructed  by 
system-builders  upon  this  foundation,  is  but  a  castle  in 
the  air,  and  can  never  withstand  the  artillery  of  reason, 
Scripture  and  history. 

As  before  we  traced  the  stream  of  civilization,  as  it 
issued  pure  and  bright  from  the  primitive  fountain  in 
Eden,  throughout  the  antediluvian  world,  to  the  fertile 


152 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


plains  of  Shinar;  so  now  we  can  retrace  it  upwards  till  we 
arrive  at  the  same  point.  The  course  is  obvious,  simple 
and  direct.  The  civilization  of  modern  Europe — of  the 
Gauls,  Germans,  Britons,  Goths,  Yandals,  Huns,  Scandi¬ 
navians,  and  the  rest  of  the  Northern  barbarians — was 
derived  from  the  Romans;  as  theirs  had  been  from  the 
Greeks;  and  theirs  again  from  the  Egyptians  and  other 
Orientals.  Prior  to  these  latter  nations,  savage  life  is 
unknown  to  either  sacred  or  profane  history. 


THE  ABORIGINES  OF  NORTH  AMERICA. 


[The  following  remarks  may  be  regarded  as  a  mere  appendix  of 
notes  to  the  preceding  articles  upon  The  Primitive  State  of  Man¬ 
kind.] 

I  mentioned  America  among  the  countries  doomed, 
probably  soon  after  the  flood,  to  be  tlie  abode  of  savages. 
I  am  aware  that  plausible  objections  have  been  urged 
against  the  opinion  that  America  was  known,  or  even 
inhabited,  at  a  very  early  period.  I  am  aware,  also,  that 
diverse  theories  have  been  contrived  and  advocated  to 
account  for  the  peopling  of  this  vast  continent.  With 
these  conflicting  speculations,  I  do  not  mean  to  inter¬ 
meddle  at  present. 

But  let  it  be  remembered,  that  we  have  no  authentic 
history  of  any  country  which  was  not  inhabited  at  the 
time  when  it  was  first  discovered  or  visited  by  civilized 
man.  And  who  can  pretend  to  tell  us  when  or  how  the 
first  inhabitants  arrived  there?  Why  are  we  to  suppose 
that  America  was  not  peopled  as  soon  as  China  and 
Japan,  and  Gaul  and  Britain,  and  the  western  and  south¬ 
ern  coasts  of  Africa?  The  reason  assigned  is,  that,  in 
those  rude  ages ,  as  we  are  pleased  to  style  them,  men 
had  not  wit  or  knowledge  enough  to  get  there.  They 
had  not  the  means  of  transportation.  They  were  igno¬ 
rant  of  the  arts  of  ship-building  and  navigation.  Indeed! 

(153) 


154 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


And  how  do  we  know  this?  Could  men,  with  the  ark 
before  their  eyes, — the  largest,  strongest,  safest  ship  that 
ever  rode  upon  the  shoreless  deep,  which  had  braved  the 
fury  of  a  forty  days’  tempest,  and  outlived  the  convul¬ 
sions  of  a  dissolving  world, — be  incapable  of  constructing 
a  frail  bark  which  might  buffet  the  smooth  waves  of  a 
summer’s  sea  for  a  few  short  months,  or  weeks,  or  days? 
Or,  after  they  had  traversed  the  mountains  and  the  plains 
of  Tartary,  and  reached  the  northeastern  extremities  of 
Asia;  what  should  have  prevented  their  crossing  the 
narrow  strait  which  separates  that  continent  from  this? 
Or,  in  the  opposite  direction,  might  they  not  have  passed 
over  from  the  west  of  Africa,  by  that  chain  of  islands 
which  probably  once  connected  that  country  with  Amer¬ 
ica,  but  which  have  long  since  been  buried  in  the  ocean? 
We  are  not  bound,  however,  to  devise  or  to  explain  the 
wrays  and  means  by  which  the  Almighty  may  have 
chosen  to  execute  his  plans  and  purposes.  If  wre  can 
ascertain  the  latter,  we  may  be  satisfied  that  the  former 
were  both  wise  and  adequate. 

Moses  informs  us  that,  from  the  tower  of  Babel  or 
the  plains  of  Shinar,  the  people  were  dispersed  over  the 
whole  earth.  His  words  are:  “So  the  Lord  scattered 
them  abroad  from  thence  upon  the  face  of  all  the  earth.” 
(Gen.  xi.  8,  9.)  That  America  had  been  submerged  by 
the  flood,  and  that  the  waters  had  retired  from  its  sur¬ 
face  at  the  same  time  as  from  the  rest  of  the  earth,  is 
certain  both  from  Scripture  and  from  the  researches  of 
the  modern  geologist.  At  any  rate,  the  science  of  geol¬ 
ogy  can  furnish  no  ground  to  presume  that  the  New 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


155 


World  is  of  a  more  recent  origin  or  formation  than  the 
Old.  The  characteristic  phenomena  of  each  are  iden¬ 
tical  or  analogous,  and  prove  that  both  have  been  sub¬ 
jected  to  the  same  changes  and  influences,  whatever 
these  may  have  been,  or  however  they  may  be  accounted 
for  or  explained  by  any  philosophical  theory.  That 
Moses,  therefore,  by  all  the  earth ,  could  mean  only  the 
half  of  it,  is  gratuitously  imputing  to  him  a  latitude  of 
expression  which,  it  is  believed,  he  was  not  in  the  habit 
of  employing.  I  admit  the  fact,  then,  to  have  been  pre¬ 
cisely  as  he  has  recorded  it.  I  do  not  question  his  integ¬ 
rity  or  accuracy,  or  even  his  philosophy  in  this  or  any 
other  particular. 

Now  it  is  remarkable  that  in  this,  as  in  other  cases 
where  the  Mosaic  history  has  been  impugned  or  hut  par¬ 
tially  received,  all  the  collateral  or  internal  evidence,  all 
the  rational  or  philosophical  considerations,  and  all  the 
traditionary  or  ethnical  testimony,  which  can  be  made 
to  bear  upon  the  subject,  go  to  confirm  his  statement  in 
its  literal  sense  and  to  the  fullest  extent.  Those  men 
who  have  recently  studied  the  character,  languages,  rites, 
ceremonies,  usages,  traditions  and  history  of  the  Indians 
with  the  greatest  care,  furnish  ample  materials  to  estab¬ 
lish  the  opinion,  that  the  Aborigines  of  America  must  be 
traced  to  a  higher  source  than  has  usually  been  allotted 
to  them;  that  they  are  indeed  a  primitive  people;  that 
they  must  have  emigrated  at  a  very  early  period;  and 
that,  in  consequence  of  their  complete  separation  from 
the  rest  of  Noah’s  descendants,  they  have  preserved  a 
more  distinct  and  homogeneous  character  and  configura- 


156 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


tion  than  probably  can  be  found  in  any  other  extensive 
portion  of  the  globe.  Can  any  trace  of  such  an  occur¬ 
rence  be  detected  in  the  existing  records  of  antiquity? 

Some  learned  men  suppose  that  Plato,  in  his  Timceus 
and  Critias ,  indicates  pretty  clearly  that  a  knowledge  of 
America,  however  obscure  and  imperfect,  had  once  pre¬ 
vailed  in  Egypt.  Should  we  admit  with  Crantor  and 
Ammianus  Marcellinus  among  the  ancients,  with  Peri- 
zonius,  Buffon,  Bailly  and  Whitehurst  among  the  mod¬ 
erns,  that  Plato’s  account  of  the  lost  Atlantis  was  in  the 
main  true,  or  founded  in  truth,  and  that  he  or  his  authori¬ 
ties  had  reference  to  a  great  western  continent,  then  the 
problem  of  our  aboriginal  population  could  be  solved 
without  difficulty.  “He  commences  (says  Catcott)  by 
mentioning  a  fact  that  happened  in  the  most  early  ages, 
the  nearest  of  any  known  to  the  beginning  of  the  world ; 
and  that  is,  of  a  vast  tract  of  land,  or  an  island  greater 
than  Libya  and  Asia,  situated  beyond  the  bounds  of 
Africa  and  Europe,  which,  by  the  concussion  of  an  earth¬ 
quake,  was  swallowed  up  in  the  ocean.  Plato  introduces 
this  fact,  as  related  by  Solon,  who,  while  he  was  in  Egypt, 
had  heard  it  of  an  old  Egyptian  priest,  when  he  dis¬ 
coursed  with  him  concerning  the  most  ancient  events. 
This  priest  tells  Solon,  that  the  Greeks,  with  regard  to 
their  knowledge  in  antiquity,  had  always  been  children; 
and  then  informs  him  of  the  history  of  this  famous 
island,  of  which  the  Greeks  knew  nothing  before.”  The 
description  of  this  island,  its  catastrophe,  and  all  the 
circumstances  specified  are  so  unique  and  extraordinary, 
that  there  must  have  been  some  ground  in  nature  and 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  157 


truth  for  the  tradition.  What  that  precise  ground  was, 
has  greatly  puzzled  the  critics;  and  their  fanciful  conjec¬ 
tures  and  speculations  about  the  locality  of  Plato’s  Atlan¬ 
tis  and  of  the  sea  which  replaced  it,  or  about  the  event 
which  gave  rise  to  the  story,  are  probably  not  more  per¬ 
tinent  or  satisfactory  than  those  presented  by  Catcott, 
which  I  proceed  to  recite. 

“  There  was  formerly  (says  Plato)  an  island  at  the 
entrance  of  the  ocean,  where  the  Pillars  of  Hercules 
stand  [and  consequently  beyond  the  then  supposed  limits 
of  Europe  and  Africa.]  This  island  was  larger  than  all 
Libya  and  Asia;  and  from  it  was  an  easy  passage  to 
many  other  islands;  and  from  these  islands  to  all  that 
continent  which  was  opposite,  and  next  to  the  true  sea 
[ aXr}&wbv  ttovtov,  or  Pacific  Ocean.]  Yet,  within  the  mouth 
there  was  a  gulf  with  a  narrow  entry.  But  that  land, 
which  surrounded  the  sea  [ '-llayo g,  where  the  division  was 
made]  might  justly  be  called  a  continent.  In  after  times 
there  happened  a  dreadful  earthquake  and  an  inundation 
of  water,  which  continued  for  the  space  of  a  whole  day 
and  night;  and  this  island,  Atlantis,  being  covered  and 
overwhelmed  by  the  waves,  sunk  beneath  the  ocean,  and 
SO  disappeared  \j.ara  rrjg  ftal&GG vjg  duGa  r^cpaviGi 9t?.]  And  that 
the  sea  in  this  place  has  been  ever  since  so  filled  with 
mud  and  sands,  that  no  one  can  sail  over  it,  or  pass  by 
it  to  those  other  islands  on  or  near  to  the  firm  land. 

“On  this  subject  one  may  observe,  that  all  historians 
and  cosmographers,  ancient  and  modern,  call  that  sea, 
in  which  this  island  was  ingulfed,  the  Atlantic  Ocean; 
retaining  even  the  very  name  the  island  bore;  which 


158 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


seems  a  sufficient  proof  that  there  had  been  such  an 
island.  Admitting,  then,  the  truth  of  this  history,  no 
one  can  deny  this  island,  beginning  near  the  straits  of 
Gibraltar,  to  have  been  of  that  extent,  from  the  north 
southward  and  from  the  east  westward,  as  to  be  more 
than  as  large  as  Asia  and  Africa.  By  the  other  neigh¬ 
bouring  islands  are  doubtless  meant  Hispaniola,  Cuba, 
Jamaica,  St.  John’s  and  those  on  the  coast.  By  the  con¬ 
tinent  or  firm  land,  opposite  to  those  isles,  mentioned  by 
Plato,  is  certainly  meant  that  land  which  is  now  called 
North  and  South  America.  And  one  must  not  be  sur¬ 
prised  at  this  New  World’s  not  having  been  discovered 
by  the  Romans,  or  any  of  those  other  nations  which,  at 
different  times,  abode  in  Spain;  because  it  may  reason¬ 
ably  be  imagined  that  the  supposed  difficulty  of  navi¬ 
gating  this  sea,  mentioned  by  Plato,  then  remained.” 
(. Augustin  de  Zarate ,  a  learned  Spaniard  of  the  sixteenth 
century,  quoted  by  Catcott.)* 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Jones,  in  a  letter  to  Catcott,  comments 
thus  on  the  passage:  “ Those  who  are  inclined  to  slight 
it  as  allegorical,  and  think  the  earthquake  described  by 
Plato  is  incredible,  because  some  fabulous  circumstances 
are  blended  with  the  account,  should  endeavour  to  show 
us,  what  could  possibly  give  rise  to  such  a  report  in  the 

*  The  prevalent  report  or  tradition  that  the  new  sea  or  Atlantic 
Ocean  was  unnavigable  would,  in  all  probability,  have  prevented  any 
attempts  to  navigate  it  long  after  every  real  obstacle  had  been  removed, 
or  after  the  sea  had  acquired  sufficient  depth  for  the  purpose. 

The  true  sea  mentioned  by  Plato,  to  which  his  continent,  lying 
beyond  the  island  Atlantis,  was  adjacent,  is  the  Great  South  Sea  or 
Pacific  Ocean. 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


159 


eastern  world;  for  that  Plato  should  so  expressly  describe 
an  opposite  continent  such  as  is  actually  now  discovered, 
together  with  the  way  that  led  to  it  from  the  straits  of 
Gibraltar,  and  that  this  strange  report  should  be  grounded 
on  no  ancient  knowledge  of  the  American  continent,  and 
prove  to  be  true  afterwards  only  by  accident, — all  this 
would  be  more  incredible  than  the  matter  reported, 
which,  if  the  natural  monuments  of  this  great  earth¬ 
quake,  still  subsisting,  are  taken  into  the  account,  has 
all  the  appearance  of  truth  that  can  be  desired.”  (The 
above  correspondent  of  Mr.  Catcott,  I  believe,  was  the 
Rev.  William  Jones,  a  learned  clergyman  of  the  Church 
of  England,  who  died  in  1801.) 

Now,  in  support  of  Plato’s  Egyptian  story  of  a  vast 
tract  of  land  having  been  swallowed  up  in  the  ocean, — - 
of  which  the  Canaries,  St.  Matthew,  St.  Thomas,  St.  He¬ 
lena,  the  Azores,  the  great  Banks  of  Newfoundland,  and 
the  West  India  Islands  are  so  many  remaining  fragments, 
standing  like  pieces  of  a  wreck  above  the  waves,  and  still 
exhibiting  to  us  some  footsteps,  as  it  were,  of  the  ancient 
path  that  once  led  from  Africa  to  America;  besides  the 
evidence  which  these  ruins  themselves  present;  besides 
the  evidence  involved  in  the  very  nature  of  the  tradi¬ 
tion; — which,  if  fiction,  must  be  pronounced  the  most 
extraordinary  ever  invented,  since  it  has  proved  to  be 
fact;  besides  the  facility  with  which  it  accounts  for  all 
the  phenomena  of  animal  existence  in  this  remote  hemi¬ 
sphere;  besides  all  the  evidence  in  its  favour,  from  these 
and  similar  considerations,  additional  confirmation  is 
afforded,  according  to  several  eminent  critics  and  com- 


160 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


mentators,  by  Scripture  itself  when  rightly  interpreted. 
I  offer  no  opinion  of  my  own,  either  in  regard  to  the 
statement  from  Plato,  or  in  regard  to  the  criticism  on 
the  sacred  text  which  I  am  going  to  cite  from  Catcott. 
Both,  whether  true  or  false,  are  sustained  by  the  author¬ 
ity  of  distinguished  scholars.  The  reader  will  appreciate 
them  according  to  his  own  judgment. 

It  were  to  be  presumed  a  priori,  it  is  argued,  that 
Moses,  in  speaking  of  the  migration  of  mankind  towards 
repeopling  the  earth,  would  make  some  mention,  or  give 
some  hint  or  intimation,  concerning  the  manner  by  which 
so  large  a  part  of  the  world,  as  the  continent  of  America, 
became  inhabited.  And  such  there  is  reason  to  think  he 
has  done,  and  left  recorded  in  the  following  remarkable 
passage:  “And  unto  Eber  were  born  two  sons:  the  name 
of  one  was  Peleg;  for  in  his  days  was  the  earth  divided:’ 
(Gen.  x.  25;  also  1  Chron.  i.  19.)  On  these  words  Ben- 
gelius  remarks,  that  Peleg  was  so  named  from  the  divi¬ 
sion  of  the  earth  which  happened  in  his  days.  Now  the 
genealogical  and  political  divisions  mentioned  by  Moses 
are  always  expressed  by  different  words  in  the  original 
Hebrew,  as  may  be  seen  by  recurring  to  Gen.  x.  5, 18,  32, 
and  xi.  9.  But  a  very  different  kind  of  division  is  meant 
by  the  word  Peleg ;  namely,  a  physical  and  geographical 
division,  which  happened  at  once ,  and  which  was  so  re¬ 
markable,  and  of  such  extent,  as  to  justify  the  naming 
of  the  patriarch  from  the  event.  By  this  word  Peleg , 
that  kind  of  division  is  principally  denoted  which  is 
applicable  to  land  and  water.  Whence,  in  the  Hebrew 
tongue,  Peleg  came  to  signify  a  river.  In  the  Greek 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


161 


-ilayoq,  and  in  the  Latin  Pelagus  denote  the  sea.  From 
this  precise  meaning  of  the  word,  then,  we  may  conclude 
that  the  earth  was  split  or  divided  asunder  for  a  very 
great  extent,  and  the  sea  came  between,  in  the  days  of 
Peleg;  and  that  this  was  the  grand  division  intended  by 
the  passage  under  consideration;  and  that  soon  after  the 
confusion  of  tongues,  and  the  dispersion  of  mankind  upon 
the  face  of  the  whole  earth,  some  of  the  sons  of  Ham,  to 
whom  Africa  was  allotted,  went  out  of  Africa  into  that 
part  of  America  which  now  looks  towards  Africa;  and 
the  earth  being  divided  or  split  asunder  in  the  days  of 
Peleg,  they,  with  their  posterity,  the  Americans,  were,  for 
many  ages,  separated  from  the  rest  of  mankind.  From 
all  this  it  may  be  inferred  that  Africa  and  America  were 
once  joined,  or  at  least  separated  from  each  other  only 
by  a  very  narrow  gulf  or  strait,  and  that,  some  time  after 
the  flood  (say,  between  the  close  of  the  first  and  third 
centuries,  in  the  days  or  during  the  lifetime  of  Peleg,)  the 
earth  was  divided  or  parted  asunder,  probably  by  means 
of  an  earthquake,  and  then  this  middle  land  sunk  be¬ 
neath  the  ocean.  This  is  certainly  a  curious  coinci¬ 
dence,  to  say  the  least,  that  Plato,  whose  information 
was  derived  through  Solon  from  the  Egyptian  priests, 
is  thus  made  to  accord  with  Moses,  who  was  profoundly 
skilled  in  all  the  wisdom  and  science  of  Egj^pt,  when  at 
the  very  acme  of  her  glory,  in  arms,  in  policy  and  in 
arts. 

“Thus  we  have  discovered  (concludes  Catcott)  an  easy 
way  by  which  America  might  have  been,  and  I  appre¬ 
hend,  the  true  way  by  which  it  really  was,  supplied  with 


1G2 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


inhabitants  after  the  flood;  a  way  this,  that  affords  a 
very  convenient  passage,  through  a  warm  and  fruitful 
climate,  for  the  most  tender  and  delicate  animals,  and 
such  as  could  not  endure  any  great  degree  of  cold,  and 
of  course  a  very  easy  one  for  robust  man”* 

If  America  was  peopled  from  Africa,  then  the  Indians 
of  this  continent  are  descended  from  Ham;  and  conse¬ 
quently  lie  under  the  prophetic  curse  pronounced  by 
Noah  upon  their  wicked  ancestor.  “And  he  said,  cursed 
be  Canaan;  a  servant  of  servants  shall  he  be  unto  his 
brethren.”  “God  shall  enlarge  Japheth,  and  he  shall 
dwell  in  the  tents  of  Shem;  and  Canaan  shall  be  his 
servant.”  (Gen.  ix.  25,  27.)  How  this  malediction  was 
finally  accomplished  upon  the  Canaanites,  the  Babylo¬ 
nians,  the  Phoenicians,  the  Carthaginians,  the  Egyptians, 
etc.,  is  well  known  to  every  reader  of  the  Bible  and  of 

*  The  only  copy  of  Catcott’s  work  on  the  Deluge,  which  I  have  ever 
seen,  belonged  to  the  Library  of  Nassau-Hall.  My  extracts  were  made 
in  1820,  during  my  residence  at  Princeton;  and  they  are  so  mixed  up 
with  my  own  comments,  that  I  may  not  have  given  him  due  credit  for 
either  the  language  or  ideas  which  I  have  borrowed.  My  attention 
has  been  directed  to  Catcott  and  to  my  old  manuscript  notes,  by  two 
recent  references  to  his  book.  1.  By  John  Delafield,  in  “An  Inquiry 
into  the  Origin  of  the  Antiquities  of  America.  ”  He  dissents  from 
Catcott,  Bengelius  and  Plato, — though  for  very  insufficient  reasons,  as 
it  appears  to  me.  2.  By  a  writer  in  the  January  (1841)  number  of 
the  Princeton  Beview,  upon  the  “  Origin  of  the  Aborigines  of  Amer¬ 
ica;”  who  quotes  largely  and  approvingly  from  the  identical  volume,  I 
presume,  which,  many  years  ago,  awakened  my  own  curiosity  and  led 
me  to  sundry  inquiries  and  speculations  relative  to  the  ancient  popu¬ 
lation  of  this  continent, — a  subject,  with  me,  still  sub  judice.  I  have 
never  seen  the  work  of  the  Kev.  John  Dunmore  Lang,  D.D.,  and  know 
nothing  more  of  his  theory  than  can  be  gleaned  from  the  above  Review 
and  from  a  brief  article  or  two  in  the  New  Yrork  Observer. 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


163 


profane  history.  “The  whole  continent  of  Africa  was 
peopled  principally  by  the  descendants  of  Ham;  and  for 
how  many  ages  have  the  better  parts  of  that  country 
lain  under  the  dominion  of  the  Romans,  and  then  of  the 
Saracens,  and  now  of  the  Turks !”  {Newton.)  And,  it 
may  be  added,  Africa  has  been,  for  centuries  past,  the 
common  slave-mart  and  slaughter-house  for  all  Christen¬ 
dom.  “There  never  has  been  a  son  of  Ham,  who  has 
shaken  a  sceptre  over  the  head  of  Japheth.  Shem  hath 
subdued  Japheth,  and  Japheth  subdued  Shem;  but  Ham 
never  subdued  either.”  {Mede.) 

How  exactly  does  the  fate  of  the  American  savages 
correspond  with  the  general  destiny  of  Ham’s  posterity ! 
They  have  been,  without  exception,  conquered  and  en¬ 
slaved,  or  reduced  to  a  state  of  extreme  vassalage;  or 
they  have  been  utterly  exterminated,  as  were  the  nations 
of  Palestine  by  the  Israelites.  How  widely  different  their 
fate  from  that  of  the  barbarous  hordes  of  Northern  and 
Western  Europe,  and  of  all  the  acknowledged  descend¬ 
ants  of  either  Shem  or  J apheth !  Here  is  a  phenomenon 
not  easily  explicable,  except  upon  the  hypothesis  that 
they  belong  to  the  doomed  race.  And  to  this  category, 
I  should  be  disposed  to  assign  them,  from  the  very  pecu¬ 
liarity  of  their  fortunes,  independently  of  mere  ethno¬ 
graphical  or  other  considerations.  A  like  application 
of  scriptural  prophecy  to  the  lost  tribes  of  Israel  might 
satisfy  any  candid  mind  that  they  can  never  be  found 
among  our  native  Indians.  If  they  still  exist  here, — 
are  yet  to  be  discovered,  recognized  and  restored  to  their 
ancient  home  or  converted  to  the  Christian  faith, — it  is 


164 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


manifest  that  this  wonderful  event  must  soon  take  place, 
or  there  will  not  remain  an  Indian  representative  of  that 
people  upon  our  continent.  The  prophecies  would  thus 
he  rendered  nugatory,  from  the  sheer  want  of  subjects, 
upon  whom  or  by  whom  they  were  to  be  fulfilled.  Now 
the  singular  destiny  of  every  branch  of  the  Abrahamic 
family  is  its  miraculous  preservation  amidst  all  sorts  of 
calamities  and  dispersions;  while  that  of  the  American 
savage  is  certain  destruction, — complete,  absolute,  inevi¬ 
table  extinction  from  the  face  of  the  earth.  At  least, 
this  is  true  in  regard  to  those  North  American  tribes 
among  whom  any  traces  of  a  Hebrew  origin  are  supposed 
to  have  been  discovered. 

I  do  not  advance  this  prophetic  argument  to  sustain 
the  Atlantis  of  Plato  or  the  logic  of  Catcott.  The  former 
is  a  distinct,  substantive,  independent,  and  hitherto  un¬ 
occupied  ground.  The  latter  may  be  rejected;  and  so 
may  every  other  theory  about  the  ancient  highway  from 
the  Old  World  to  the  New.  And  yet  the  Indians  may 
be  the  descendants  of  Ham, — either  from  Asia  or  Africa. 
If  from  the  latter,  it  does  not  follow  that  they  must  have 
been  of  the  negro  or  Ethiopian  race.  None  of  the  Asiatic 
Hamites  were  negroes.  Nor  is  it  probable  that  the  primi¬ 
tive  inhabitants  of  northern  Africa,  along  the  shores  of 
the  Mediterranean,  from  the  Nile  to  the  Straits  of  Gib¬ 
raltar,  were  negroes.  And  from  these  must  have  issued 
the  early  colonies  which  settled  the  lost  Atlantis,  (if  such 
an  island  ever  existed,)  and,  at  length,  America.  Soon 
after  reaching  the  latter,  they  were  suddenly  and  forever 
cut  off  from  all  future  communication  with  their  eastern 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


165 


brethren,  by  the  earthquake  which  buried  beneath  the 
waves  of  the  new  Atlantic  Ocean,  the  intervening  land 
together  with  its  entire  population.  Now  we  can  easily 
suppose  the  condition,  character  and  circumstances  of 
the  forlorn,  destitute,  isolated  remnant  that  survived 
and  were  compelled  to  subsist  as  best  they  could  in  this 
gloomy  wilderness,  to  have  been  such,  that  they  natu¬ 
rally  and  speedily  degenerated  into  savages;  as  did  their 
kindred  throughout  central  and  southern  Africa. 

Nor  does  my  argument  from  prophecy  require  that  all 
the  aborigines  of  this  continent  should  be  the  offspring 
of  Ham.  The  Esquimaux,  for  instance,  belong  to  the 
Mongolian  race  according  to  Blumenbach,  and  are  pre¬ 
sumed  to  be  descendants  of  Japheth.  There  may  be 
others  of  the  same  family.  Some  tribes  also  may  be 
identified,  perhaps,  with  the  South  Sea  Islanders  and  the 
Asiatic  Malays.  There  is  ample  scope  for  exceptions, 
and  for  diversity  of  opinions  in  regard  to  several  clans 
or  nations.  Theorists,  moreover,  are  welcome  to  all  the 
capital  which  they  can  make  of  the  Mexicans,  Peruvians, 
Natchez  and  Bogotians.  So  striking,  however,  is  the  re¬ 
semblance  between  the  aboriginal  tribes  in  every  part  of 
the  country,  from  Labrador  to  Cape  Horn,  that  they  are 
generally  regarded  by  naturalists  as  constituting  but  one 
distinct  variety  of  the  human  species.  The  great  mass 
of  them  also  appear  evidently  subjected  to  the  same  de¬ 
plorable  destiny;  namely,  bondage  or  extermination  at 
the  hands  of  Christian  Japheth,  —  a  destiny  without  a 
parallel,  on  so  large  a  scale,  in  the  history  of  man,  and 
altogether  inexplicable,  except  upon  the  assumption  that 


166 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


they  are  tlie  posterity  of  Ham,  and  are  therefore  still 
enduring  the  grievous  penalty  denounced  upon  them 
more  than  four  thousand  years  ago. 

Nor  do  the  marvellous  ruins  of  splendid  cities  and 
colossal  structures  in  Mexico  and  Central  America,  in 
the  least,  affect  the  argument  or  the  general  facts.  That 
these  were  not  the  work  of  savages  is  conceded.  The 
builders  of  Memphis,  of  Babylon,  of  Tyre,  of  Carthage 
were  quite  competent  to  the  task,  no  doubt.  And  these 
were  all  legitimate  Hcimites.  Whether  they  had  any 
agency  in  the  affair  or  not,  I  leave  Messrs.  Stephens  and 
Gather  wood  to  answer  A  If  it  be  objected  in  limine ,  that 
none  of  those  enterprising  ancients  could  possibly  have 
found  their  way  thither,  be  it  so.  Then  get  over  or  out 
of  the  difficulty  as  best  you  can.  If  they  could  not,  pray 
who  could ,  and  who  did ?  There  lie  the  ruins,  as  palpa¬ 
ble,  as  stupendous,  as  eloquent,  as  those  of  glorious  old 
Thebes.  The  founders  and  citizens  of  both  have  alike 
passed  away;  and,  but  for  a  few  slight  historical  and 
poetic  notices  of  the  latter,  we  should  at  this  day  be  as 
ignorant  of  the  one  as  of  the  other.  And  we  should  no 
more  think  of  ascribing  the  gigantic  monuments  of  the 
Nile  to  the  servile  Copt  or  Bedouin  Arab,  than  we  now 
do  those  at  Palenque  to  the  indigenous  Mexican.  The 
only  rational  mode  in  such  case  is  to  cut  the  Gordian 
knot  forthwith  and  without  flinching.  When  we  meet, 
in  the  desert  or  wilderness,  with  a  Tadmor  of  stately 

*  This  article  was  prepared  before  the  publication  of  Mr.  Stephens’ 
work  on  Central  America,  and  was  forwarded  to  the  editors  of  the 
Repository  before  any  copy  of  that  work  had  reached  Nashville. 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


167 


palaces  and  temples,  let  us  have  faith  in  adequate  human 
agency,  and  take  for  granted  that  the  ingenious  Greek  or 
his  more  accomplished  master  had  been  there,  whether 
we  can  prove  it  or  not.  If  the  works  in  question  shall 
be  found  to  belong  to  the  old  Egyptian  or  Phoenician 
school  of  architecture,  never  doubt  that  the  Egyptian  or 
Phoenician  navies  once  frequented  the  adjacent  seas:  and 
that  upon  these  shores  were  some  of  those  far  distant, 
and  to  the  rest  of  the  world,  unknown  ports,  with  which 
they  were  in  the  habit  of  commercial  intercourse;  and 
that  they  reared  and  embellished  the  magnificent  cities 
which  have  just  begun  to  excite  our  curiosity  and  aston¬ 
ishment.* 


*  AElian  states,  on  the  authority  of  Theopompns,  that,  at  a  certain 
conference  between  Midas ,  the  Phrygian,  and  the  sage  or  demigod, 
Silenus,  the  latter,  among  other  strange  matters,  informed  his  friend 
Midas:  “That  Europe,  and  Asia,  and  Libya  were  islands,  which  the 
ocean  entirely  surrounded ;  and  that  the  country  which  was  situated 
beyond  their  own  part  of  the  world  was  alone  the  true  continent;  that 
it  was  of  boundless  extent;  that  it  nourished  animals  of  a  different 
kind  and  of  immense  size  [the  mammoth,  megatherium,  mastodon,  mis- 
sourium,  etc. — no  doubt;]  that  the  men  there  were  twice  as  large,  and 
that  they  lived  twice  as  long  as  other  mortals;  that  there  were  many 
populous  cities,  and  many  peculiar  modes  or  forms  of  life, — with  laws 
and  customs  directly  contrary  to  their  own.”  Silenus  goes  on  to  de¬ 
scribe  two  remarkable  cities  in  particular,  totally  unlike  each  other ; 
the  one,  a  city  of  War  [I/d/:/ioc,]  the  other  of  Piety  — the 

latter,  of  course,  very  good  and  very  happy;  the  former  always  at  war, 
and,  with  a  population  of  some  two  millions,  making  sad  havoc  among 
their  neighbours.  He  mentions  also  “an  exploring  expedition” under¬ 
taken  by  a  company  of  adventurers,  consisting  of  only  about  ten  mil¬ 
lions,  whose  aim  was  to  cross  the  wide  ocean  and  visit  their  kindred 
in  the  eastern  world — or,  “to  pass  over  to  these  islands  of  ours,”  as 
the  worthy  Silenus  hath  it.  That  after  a  successful  voyage  (by  way 
of  Greenland,  Iceland,  etc.,  as  I  take  it,)  they  marched  onward  till 


168 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


But,  it  will  be  urged,  that  they  knew  nothing  of  the 
mariner’s  compass.  This  again  is  a  perfectly  gratuitous 
and  unavailing  objection.  For  if  they  could  not  possibly 
reach  our  coast  without  the  compass,  and  yet  did  actually 
reach  it, — why,  then,  I  suppose,  we  must  allow  them  the 
benefit  of  the  compass  also.  I  do  not  assert  that  they 
used  the  compass,  or  that  it  was  indispensable  to  their 
navigation.  The  objector  has  created  the  dilemma  which 
demands  it.  Independently,  however,  of  this  hypothet¬ 
ical  presumption,  there  is  ground  to  believe  that  the  com¬ 
pass  has  been  known,  from  time  immemorial,  among  the 
Chinese  and  other  Orientals;  and  that  it  could  hardly 
have  been  unknown  among  the  Phoenicians  and  Egyp¬ 
tians.  The  immense  fleets  of  Sesostris,  the  extensive 
voyages  of  the  Phoenicians  from  the  days  of  Sidon  to  the 
destruction  of  Tyre,  those  performed  by  order  of  Solomon, 
the  circumnavigation  of  Africa  under  Pharaoh  Neclios, 

they  came  in  contact  with  the  honest  and  courteous  Hyperboreans, 
“esteemed  the  happiest  people  among  us;”  whom  they  affected  to 
despise,  and  therefore  disdained  to  proceed  any  further — upon  such  a 
fool’s  errand ;  with  sundry  other  equally  marvellous  and  no  less  credit¬ 
able  facts  and  events ; — for  all  which  the  curious  reader  may,  at  his 
leisure,  consult  the  aforesaid  most  judicious  and  faithful  JElian.  (Tar. 
Hist.,  lib.  iii.  c.  18.) 

But  seriously,  the  nonsense  of  AElian  has  been  fairly  matched  by  the 
modern  stories  of  American  Amazons,  Patagonian  giants,  Yankee  sea- 
serpents,  etc. — to  say  nothing  of  the  famous  fountain,  which  was  long 
believed  to  possess  the  property  of  bestowing  perpetual  youth ;  and 
in  search  of  which  Juan  Ponce  de  Leon  discovered  Florida,  in  1512. 
By-the-way,  this  very  tradition  may  have  been  derived  from  or  through 
./Elian,  since  he  speaks  of  a  similar  fountain  or  river  of  rejuvenescence 
in  the  chapter  above  cited.  How  much  of  truth  may  have  served  as 
the  germ  of  his  narrative  or  fiction,  is  still  a  subject  of  grave  contro¬ 
versy  among  the  critics  and  scholiasts. 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


169 


the  naval  prowess  and  commercial  grandeur  of  Carthage, 
the  exploring  expeditions  and  discoveries  of  Hanno  and 
Himilco, — all  proclaim  a  degree  of  skill  and  knowledge 
in  seamanship,  far  surpassing  anything  recorded  of  the 
Greeks  and  Komans,  and  which  it  would  be  difficult  to 
account  for,  without  conceding  to  them  some  means  or 
instruments  never  possessed  by  the  latter.  That  the 
Phoenicians  took  every  precaution  to  conceal  “the  secret 
of  their  navigation”  from  other  nations  is  well  known, 
and  has  never  been  denied.  Might  not  the  mariner's 
compass  have  been  among  the  things  thus  studiously 
concealed?  Several  learned  men — Pineda,  Kircher,  Sir 
William  Drummond  and  others — have  laboured  to  prove 
that  these  primitive  navigators  were  acquainted  with  the 
directive  properties  of  the  magnet,  and  that  they  actually 
employed  the  compass  or  some  similar  instrument.* 

However  this  may  be,  no  one  can  read  the  glowing  de¬ 
scriptions  of  their  ships  and  commerce  and  naval  enter¬ 
prise  and  unparalleled  opulence  contained  in  the  Bible, 
without  feeling  the  conviction  that  neither  the  Greeks 
nor  the  moderns  have  ever  accorded  to  them  more  than 
justice.  I  request  the  timid  or  skeptical  reader  to  turn 
to  the  2 T th  and  28th  chapters  of  Ezekiel,  and  to  the  23d 
of  Isaiah;  and  when  he  has  carefully  perused  and  pon- 

*  For  a  brief  view  of  the  claims  of  the  Chinese,  etc.,  see  Klaproth’s 
Letter  to  A.  Humboldt;  also,  article  “Compass,  The  Mariner’s,”  in 
the  Penny  Cyclopaedia. 

The  journals,  charts,  log-books,  etc.  of  the  old  Phoenician  captains, 
will,  when  discovered,  probably  shed  some  light  not  only  upon  the 
Atlantis  and  Ophir,  but  upon  sundry  other  matters  of  considerable 
interest  to  the  curious. 


170 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


derecl  each  graphic  phrase  of  the  inspired  record,  let  him 
search  our  world  over  for  the  city  which  can  now  he 
compared  with  ancient  Tyre, — atlie  crowning  city,  whose 
merchants  were  princes,” — the  then  proud  mistress  of 
the  ocean,  and  the  grand  emporium  of  a  traffic  which 
apparently  extended  to  every  port  and  people  upon  the 
globe.  Such  gorgeous  language,  if  applied  to  any  mod¬ 
ern  Venice  or  London,  would  be  deemed  not  merely 
extravagant  and  hyperbolical,  but  positively  absurd. 
So  far  then  from  being  incredible,  it  might  be  assumed 
as  highly  probable,  that  the  Phoenicians  should  have 
visited  America,  and  planted  colonies  or  established 
trading  factories  in  the  vicinity  of  its  richest  mines  of 
gold  and  silver.  If  so,  we  can  readily  account  for  the 
amazing  quantities  of  the  precious  metals  with  which 
they  supplied  the  nations;  and  perhaps  even  the  Ophir 
of  Solomon  may  yet  be  claimed  for  our  modest  hemi¬ 
sphere.* 


*  The  geographical  position  of  Ophir  has  given  rise  to  much  learned 
speculation.  Basnage  mentions  several  writers,  chiefly  Jewish,  who 
place  it  in  Peru ;  or  who  rather  make  the  names  Ophir  and  Peru 
identical,  by  a  mere  transposition  of  the  radical  letters  in  the  original 
Hebrew.  This  may  be  as  orthodox  etymology  as  that  which  would 
derive  Potomac  from  the  Greek  word  roro/idg,  a  river. 

From  Diodorus  Siculus  (lib.  v.  c.  19,  20)  we  gather  the  following 
particulars:  ‘'At  a  great  distance  from  Africa  to  the  west  there  lies 
in  the  vast  ocean  a  very  large  island ;  having  a  fruitful  soil,  lofty  moun¬ 
tains  and  navigable  rivers.  Formerly  it  was  unknown  on  account  of 
its  very  remote  situation  from  the  rest  of  the  world.  But  at  length 
the  Phoenicians,  who  in  the  most  ancient  times  were  in  the  habit  of 
making  distant  voyages  for  the  purposes  of  trade,  being  driven  thither 
by  violent  winds  and  tempests,  became  acquainted  with  its  value  and 
importance;  and  thus  introduced  it  to  the  knowledge  and  notice  of 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


171 


But  I  do  not  require  the  Atlantis  of  Plato  or  the  ships 
of  Tyre  in  order  to  furnish  a  passage  for  the  original 
emigrants  to  this  continent.  Even  in  the  present  rela¬ 
tive  positions  of  the  land  and  water,  no  very  formidable 
obstacles  exist;  and  ways  enough  have  been  pointed  out, 
by  which  the  rudest  savage  could  pass  from  the  one  con¬ 
tinent  to  the  other.  The  chief  difficulty,  after  all,  is  to 
find  or  devise  a  passage  for  many  species  of  the  inferior 
animals.  These  could  neither  have  come  by  water  nor 
over  the  ice.  If  all  terrestrial  animals  were  destroyed, 
except  those  preserved  in  the  ark,  we  must  admit  the 
necessity  of  some  practicable  mode  by  which  they  could 
get  here.  No  merely  local  or  subsequent  creations,  or 
partial  escapes  from  the  diluvial  catastrophe,  will  meet 
the  case  on  scriptural  grounds.*  Here,  then,  there  would 


some  other  nations,  particularly  the  Tuscans,  who  attempted  to  plant 
a  colony  in  it,  but  were  prevented  by  the  Carthaginians,  who  had  be¬ 
come  the  most  powerful  people  at  sea,”  etc.  Wesseling,  in  his  notes 
on  the  above,  supposes  that  an  island  adjacent  to  America,  or  that 
America  itself  was  referred  to.  At  least,  after  disposing  of  the  Fortu¬ 
nate  and  other  islands,  as  not  suiting  the  historian’s  description,  he 
asks:  “Ergone  una  earum  est,  qute  America  adjacent,  ipsave  Amer¬ 
ica?”  We  learn,  moreover,  that  the  Carthaginians,  who  were  ac¬ 
quainted  with  this  transatlantic  country,  wished  to  conceal  its  situ¬ 
ation,  not  only  from  a  fear  that  their  citizens  would  emigrate  thither 
on  account  of  its  superior  advantages,  but  also  that  they  might  secure 
a  safe  retreat  in  the  event  of  an  unsuccessful  war.  Possibly,  this  mys¬ 
terious  concealment  by  the  Punic  navigators  may  have  occasioned  the 
report  and  belief,  that  the  entire  island  or  continent  had  been  lost  or 
buried  in  the  ocean.  For  when  sought  by  others,  it  could  not  be 
found.  (See  Wesseling’s  edition,  vol.  i.  pp.  344,  345.  See  also  a  work 
ascribed  to  Aristotle,  De  Mirabil.  Auscult. ) 

*  “And  all  flesh  died  that  moved  upon  the  earth,  both  of  fowl,  and 
of  cattle,  and  of  beast,  and  of  every  creeping  thing  that  creepeth  upon 


172 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


seem  to  be  no  alternative,  but  the  unqualified  admission, 
either  that  the  continents  were  once  united  in  the  man¬ 
ner  already  indicated,  or  that  Asia  was  formerly  joined 
to  America,  in  the  more  southern  latitudes;  and  that  the 
innumerable  islands  in  the  Pacific  Ocean  are  the  higher 
parts  of  the  land  which  completed,  above  water,  the  con¬ 
nexion  between  the  Old  World  and  the  New.  Perhaps 
the  earth  was  one  continuous  body  of  land  for  a  century 
or  two  or  three  after  the  flood,  and  until  after  the  disper¬ 
sion  of  men  and  other  animals  over  its  surface;  and  that 
then  occurred  the  grand  physical  division  in  the  days  of 

the  earth,  and  every  man ;  all,  in  whose  nostrils  was  the  breath  of  life, 
of  all  that  was  in  the  dry  land,  died.”  (Gen.  vii.  21,  22.) 

No  embarrassment  need  be  created  by  the  fact,  if  fact  it  be,  that 
some  species  are  found  on  the  one  continent  which  are  unknown  to 
the  other.  If  any  animals  exist  in  America,  for  instance,  which  are 
not  in  the  eastern  hemisphere,  they  have  become  extinct  in  the  latter 
since  the  period  of  their  first  migration  hither.  If  any  exist  in  the  Old 
World,  which  are  not  in  the  New,  we  have  only  to  infer,  either  that 
they  never  came  here,  or  that  they  have  become  extinct  since  their 
arrival.  He  would  be  a  bold  man,  however,  who  should  presume  to 
dogmatize  on  this  subject,  until  he  may  have  become  somewhat  ac¬ 
quainted  with  the  immense  regions  of  both  continents,  which  have 
hitherto  escaped  the  notice  alike  of  philosopher  and  traveller.  Per¬ 
haps,  too,  our  zoology,  our  physiology,  and  our  geology,  may  need 
some  new  modifications  or  improvements,  before  we  can  pronounce 
with  certainty  even  upon  the  scanty  materials  already  within  the  scope 
of  scientific  scrutiny. 

If  Moses  has  recorded  the  literal  truth,  namely,  that  every  living 
creature  upon  the  face  of  the  whole  earth  perished  by  the  flood,  except 
such  as  were  in  the  ark  with  Noah,  as  I  doubt  not  he  did,  then  we 
have  a  safe  starting-point,  a  fixed  datum,  from  which  and  with  which 
to  commence  our  researches.  Can  it  be  demonstrated  that  any  ter¬ 
rene  animals  now  exist,  which  did  not  originate  from  those  preserved 
in  the  ark  ?  Nothing  short  of  demonstration  will  invalidate  the  posi¬ 
tive  scriptural  testimony  in  the  slightest  degree. 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  173 

Peleg,  by  the  breaking  up  of  the  exterior  crust  and  the 
bursting  forth  of  the  central  waters,  which  have  ever 
since  covered  the  larger  portion  of  the  globe,  and  thus 
effectually  prevented  a  reunion  of  the  scattered  families, 
and  hindered  many  a  Nimrod  or  Alexander  from  con¬ 
quering  and  laying  waste  the  whole  world.  This  latter 
suggestion,  luckily,  is  secure  from  the  assaults  of  the 
geologist,  as  it  leaves  him  no  visible  ground  to  stand 
upon;  and  he  will  hardly  search  for  it  at  the  bottom  of 
the  ocean.  The  striking  resemblance  between  the  men 
and  brutes  of  northeastern  America  and  northwestern 
Europe,  shows  the  intimate  connexion  which  once  sub¬ 
sisted  between  the  continents  in  the  higher  latitudes,  , 
while  Greenland,  Iceland,  Spitzbergen,  etc.,  still  remain 
both  as  evidences  and  monuments  of  the  ancient  physi¬ 
cal  union.  Asia  and  America  are  sufficiently  near  to 
each  other  to  enable  us,  by  the  occasional  aid  of  a  bridge 
of  ice  across  Behrings  Straits,  to  meet  the  animal  phe¬ 
nomena  peculiar  to  that  region. 

Again,  as  it  was  manifestly  one  of  the  great  purposes 
of  the  Almighty,  that  the  whole  earth  should  be  peopled 
forthwith,  so  I  suppose  this  purpose  was  effected  in  the 
usual  way;  namely,  by  mingling  mercies  with  judg¬ 
ments,  parental  tenderness  with  parental  chastisements. 
Thus,  by  the  confusion  of  tongues  men  were  punished 
and  obliged  to  desist  from  a  wicked  enterprise,  and  to 
obey  the  divine  command  by  emigrating  in  all  direc¬ 
tions  to  distant  lands, — thence  never  to  return.  They 
went  to  the  polar  and  to  the  equatorial  regions;  to  live, 
not  to  perish ,  amidst  the  snows  and  frosts  of  the  one,  and 


174 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


the  burning  sands  and  sultry  blasts  of  the  other.  Did 
the  Deity  make  no  seasonable  and  kindly  provision  for 
these  wandering  outcasts?  Were  they  to  incur  the  fearful 
hazards  incident  to  the  most  violent  changes  of  climate, 
food  and  habitudes  of  all  sorts, — without  preparation, 
without  protection,  without  any  knowledge  or  anticipa¬ 
tion  of  the  evils  to  be  encountered?  I  think  not.  What 
then  was  done  to  accommodate  man  to  his  new  situation 
and  altered  circumstances?  Precisely  what  the  exigency 
demanded  and  divine  wisdom  directed.  Now  it  is  re¬ 
markable,  that  no  new  variety  of  man  has  been  discov¬ 
ered  or  gradually  produced,  within  the  period  of  authentic 
history.  All  the  physical  attributes  which  now  distin¬ 
guish  the  inhabitants  of  different  countries,  were  just  as 
palpable  and  as  strongly  marked  when  they  first  appear 
upon  the  stage.  From  Japan  to  Britain,  from  Nova 
Zembla  to  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  man  has  been  ever 
the  same  since  first  noticed  in  history.  The  Caucasian 
and  the  Negro ,  the  Malay  and  the  Mongol ,  have  continued 
to  be  what  they  apparently  were  from  the  beginning. 
“  Can  the  Ethiopian  change  his  skin  ?”  had  become  a 
proverb  among  the  most  ancient  nations,  to  denote  an 
impossibility; — clearly  proving  that  the  black  skin  was  a 
well-known  fact,  as  well  as  an  indelible  characteristic  of 
a  portion  of  mankind.  If  nature,  by  a  certain,  regular, 
invariable  process,  has  really  effected  all  the  existing 
diversities  in  the  human  family,  she  must  have  com¬ 
pleted  her  work,  or  exhausted  her  resources,  some  three 
thousand  years  ago.  For,  assuredly,  she  has  attempted 
nothing  of  the  kind  since.  So,  whether  we  ascribe  the 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


175 


radical  changes  in  question  to  a  direct  act  of  the  Deity, 
like  the  confusion  of  speech,  or  to  the  operation  of  ordi¬ 
nary  physical  causes,  we  are  constrained  to  admit  that 
the  whole  was  achieved  at  a  very  remote  period ;  and 
most  probably,  because  then  most  needed,  at  the  epoch 
of  the  dispersion.  Such  indeed  was  the  very  kind  of 
adaptation  to  the  peculiarities  of  their  new  position, 
which  was  called  for  on  the  score  both  of  necessity  and 
benevolence.  The  American  variety  is  doubtless  as  old 
as  any  other.  It  cannot  be  proved  to  be  more  recent. 
Nor  are  we  to  confound  physiological  with  genealogical 
distinctions.  The  Phoenicians  were  of  the  Caucasian 
race,— but  of  the  family  of  Ham,  equally  with  the  Hot¬ 
tentot  and  the  American  savage. 

I  do  not  mean  to  deny,  nor  do  I  wish  to  underrate 
the  modifying  or  transforming  influences  of  climate,  food, 
manner  of  living,  etc.,  upon  the  persons  and  constitutions 
of  mankind.  These  are  visible  and  obvious  everywhere. 
I  more  than  doubt,  however,  the  theory  which  ascribes 
to  these  and  similar  causes  all  the  distinct  varieties  in 
the  human  species.  These  appear  to  be  permanent;  and 
none  of  them  can  be  traced  to  any  definite  historic  origin. 
They  never  lose  their  specific  attributes;  they  never  glide 
into  one  another,  nor  exhibit  anomalous  forms  or  aspects, 
except  by  intermarriages.  Were  the  negro  to  reside  in 
England  a  thousand  years,  he  would  be  a  negro  still, 
provided  his  race  continued  without  mixture.  The  Cau¬ 
casian,  with  the  same  proviso,  would  never  become  a 
negro  under  any  circumstances  or  in  any  latitude.  Par¬ 
tial  and  temporary  changes  are  not  to  be  confounded 


176 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


with  hereditary  and  abiding  differences.  The  complex¬ 
ion,  for  example,  is  easily  affected.  But  restore  the 
Caucasian  of  darkest  hue  to  the  home  and  habits  of  his 
fathers,  and  his  children  will  be  as  fair  as  the  rest  of  his 
kindred.*  To  this  branch  of  the  subject,  I  cannot  of 
course  do  justice  in  a  few  sentences.  I  can  neither  pre¬ 
sent  my  own  views  fully,  nor  meet  with  becoming  respect 
the  widely  different  opinions  of  eminent  philosophers  and 
theologians.  ^ 

I  notice  another  objection  which  has  been  urged 
against  the  early  peopling  of  America;  namely,  that 
the  population  of  the  Old  World  was  utterly  inadequate 
to  the  purpose,  within  the  days  of  Peleg,  or  even  for 
many  centuries  afterwards.  The  fallacy  of  this  objec- 

*  I  attach  but  little  importance  to  the  case  of  the  black  Jews,  said 
to  be  found  in  India.  They  are  probably  a  mixed  race  at  most.  The 
Jews  never  object  to  marriages  with  proselytes;  and  they  have  seldom 
been  averse  to  the  making  of  proselytes  to  their  faith,  when  it  could 
be  done  without  danger.  But  it  remains  to  be  seen,  whether  even  the 
black  colour  would  not  disappear  upon  their  return  to  a  more  con¬ 
genial  land ;  if  they  are  indeed  the  genuine  descendants  of  Israel,  and 
if  they  have  preserved  the  purity  of  the  Hebrew  blood  amidst  all  their 
wanderings  and  adverse  vicissitudes.  This,  after  all,  is  but  an  instance 
of  a  partial  change.  Other  similar  cases  may  be  disposed  of  in  like 
manner.  The  great  fact  still  remains,  namely,  that  no  new  variety 
has  been  formed  within  the  period  of  human  history,  and  that  none 
such  is  now  in  course  of  formation.  With  the  mixed  races,  I  repeat, 
the  argument  has  no  concern.  Amalgamation  may  achieve  marvels 
or  create  oddities,  but  it  will  never  demolish  history,  philosophy  or 
Scripture.  Mere  sporadical  varieties,  like  the  Porcupine  family  in 
England,  and  Albinos  everywhere,  are  entitled  to  no  special  notice  in 
connexion  with  any  theory.  The  black  Portuguese  and  the  bronzed 
Europeans,  of  all  sorts,  found  in  Africa  and  Asia,  assuredly  do  not 
prove  either  a  transition  from  one  distinct  physiological  variety  to 
another,  or  the  creation  of  any  new  variety. 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  177 


tion  has  been  shown  by  several  learned  men.  Thus, 
Picart  supposes  that  there  might  have  been  432,000,000 
of  inhabitants  upon  the  earth  at  the  close  of  the  first 
150  years  after  the  flood.  Petavius  estimates  the  popu¬ 
lation  of  the  world  at  the  birth  of  Peleg,  or  about  101 
years  after  the  flood,  at  32,768.  Bishop  Cumberland 
gives  30,000  for  the  same  date.  According  to  Mede, 
there  were  or  might  have  been  at  the  time  7000  men, 
besides  women  and  children.  Usher  is  of  opinion,  that 
in  the  102d  year  after  the  flood,  mankind  might  have 
increased  to  the  number  of  388,605  males,  and  as  many 
females,  or  to  a  grand  total  of  777,210.  This  uncommon 
increase  he  ascribes  to  an  extraordinary  fecundity  im¬ 
plied  in  that  repeated  command  or  blessing:  “Be  fruit¬ 
ful,  and  multiply,  and  replenish  the  earth.”  (Gen.  ix.  1.) 
If  we  allow  this  number  to  have  doubled  every  twenty 
years,  we  shall  find  the  amount  within  a  fraction  of 
800,000,000  at  the  end  of  300  years  after  the  flood — or 
fifty  years  before  the  death  of  Noah,  and  forty  before 
that  of  Peleg.  Any  approximation,  however,  to  this 
vast  multitude,  would  dissipate  every  objection  to  our 
argument.  A  few  facts,  out  of  many  hundreds  on  record, 
will  further  illustrate  and  confirm  the  general  views 
already  presented. 

Within  the  space  of  215  years,  (Samaritan  Pentateuch 
and  St.  Paul,)  the  posterity  of  Jacob  alone  amounted  to 
603,550  males  “from  twenty  years  old  and  upward,”  all 
able  to  go  forth  to  war,  exclusive  of  the  Levites.  (Num.  i. 
45,  46.)  Add  women  and  children,  the  aged  and  infirm, 
together  with  the  entire  tribe  of  Levi,  and  the  whole 


178 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


multitude  could  not  have  been  less  than  three  or  four 
millions.  Now  they  were  not  only  slaves,  but  were  sub¬ 
jected  to  the  most  rigorous  treatment  which  a  subtle  and 
jealous  policy  could  devise.  They  were  commanded  to 
destroy  their  own  male  infants;  were  crowded  together 
in  a  corner  of  a  populous  empire;  and  were  kept  at  hard 
labour  under  cruel  taskmasters,  whose  main  object  was, 
not  merely  to  extort  the  utmost  profit  from  their  service, 
but  absolutely  to  crush  them  beneath  the  burdens  and 
privations  imposed. 

Egypt,  too,  was  proverbially  populous.  If  we  believe 
the  account  given  by  Diodorus  of  the  1700  male  children 
bom  on  the  same  day  with  Sesostris,  and  afterwards 
made  officers  in  his  army,  then  it  will  follow,  according 
to  a  computation  made  by  Goguet  on  purpose  to  ridicule 
the  story  of  the  Greek  historian,  that  there  must  have 
been  at  least  60,000,000  of  inhabitants  in  Egypt  at  that 
early  period.  The  army  of  Sesostris,  we  are  told,  con¬ 
sisted  of  600,000  foot  and  24,000  horse,  besides  27,000 
armed  chariots,  with  a  fleet  of  400  sail  on  the  Red  Sea, 
and  as  many  perhaps  in  the  Mediterranean.  His  con¬ 
quests  extended  from  the  Ganges  to  the  Danube.  He¬ 
rodotus  expressly  says:  “The  reign  of  Amasis  was  aus¬ 
picious  to  the  Egyptians,  who  under  this  prince  could 
boast  of  twenty  thousand  cities  well  inhabited.”  (Euterpe, 
177.)  The  statements  of  Herodotus  and  Diodorus  may 
be  treated  as  apocryphal;  still,  there  is  abundant  evi¬ 
dence  in  Scripture  that  the  population  of  Egypt  could 
not  have  been  greatly  exaggerated.  Pray,  what  else  had 
the  Egyptians  to  do,  during  the  seven  years’  famine  in 


179 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 

Joseph’s  time,  except  to  build  cities?  “And  as  for  the 
people,  he  removed  them  to  cities,  from  one  end  of  the 
borders  of  Egypt,  even  to  the  other  end  thereof.”  (Gen. 
xlvii.  21.)  “During  the  inundation  of  the  Nile,  the 
cities  only  are  left  conspicuous,  appearing  above  the 
waters  like  the  islands  of  the  iEgean  Sea.”  (Herod. 
Euter.  97.)  Moses  and  Herodotus  agree  very  well,  so 
far  as  cities  are  concerned.  Egypt  was  of  much  larger 
extent  in  ancient  times  than  at  present.  The  shifting 
sands  of  the  desert  have  been  steadily  encroaching  upon 

its  once  fertile  plains,  and  thereby  diminishing  its  habit- 

/ 

able  territory,  probably  ever  since  the  Persian  conquest. 

Not  long  after  the  coronation  of  Saul,  “the  Philis¬ 
tines  gathered  themselves  together  to  fight  with  Israel, 
thirty  thousand  chariots,  and  six  thousand  horsemen, 
and  people  as  the  sand  which  is  on  the  sea-shore  in 
multitude.”  (1  Sam.  xiii.  5.)  The  Philistines  possessed 
a  narrow  strip  of  land  along  the  sea-coast,  in  the  south¬ 
west  of  Canaan,  about  forty  miles  long,  and  fifteen  broad. 
“And  it  came  to  pass  that  in  the  fifth  year  of  king  Relio- 
boam,  Shishak,  king  of  Egypt,  came  up  against  Jerusalem 
with  twelve  hundred  chariots,  and  sixty  thousand  horse¬ 
men,  and  the  people  were  without  number  that  came 
with  him  out  of  Egypt.”  (2  Chron.  xii.  2,  3.)  Abijah, 
son  of  Rehoboam  and  grandson  of  Solomon,  “set  the 
battle  in  array  with  an  army  of  valiant  men  of  war,  even 
four  hundred  thousand  chosen  men.  Jeroboam  also  set 
the  battle  in  array  against  him  with  eight  hundred  thou¬ 
sand  chosen  men,  being  mighty  men  of  valour.”  (2  Chron. 
xiii.  3.)  “And  Asa  had  an  army  of  men  that  bare  tar- 


180 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


gets  and  spears,  out  of  Judah  three  hundred  thousand; 
and  out  of  Benjamin,  that  bare  shields  and  drew  bows, 
two  hundred  and  eighty  thousand;  all  these  were  mighty 
men  of  valour.  And  there  came  out  against  them  Zerah 
the  Ethiopian,  with  a  host  of  a  thousand  thousand  (i.e.  a 
million)  and  three  hundred  chariots;  and  came  unto  Ma- 
reshah.”  (2  Chron.  xiv.  8,  9.)  According  to  Josephus,  the 
whole  number  slain  and  taken  prisoners  by  the  Romans, 
during  the  seven  years’  war,  was  1,462,000.  What  must 
not  great  Babylon  have  been  at  the  height  of  its  glory, 
when  Seleucus  Nicator,  soon  after  the  death  of  Alex¬ 
ander,  could  drain  it  of  above  500,000  persons  to  people 
his  new  city  of  Seleucia,  forty-five  miles  northward?  And 
this,  too,  after  Babylon  had  been  repeatedly  taken,  sacked 
and  pillaged  by  hostile  armies. 

Let  the  reader  carefully  examine  the  scriptural  statis¬ 
tics  of  the  numerous  armies,  which  converted  the  land  of 
Judea  into  one  great  battle-field,  from  the  days  of  Joshua 
till  the  final  destruction  of  Jerusalem;  let  him  reflect 
upon  the  descriptions  of  Nineveh  and  Babylon,  and  of 
many  other  cities  as  well  as  kingdoms;  let  him  abate  as 
much  from  the  letter  of  the  text  as  Michaelis,  Eichhorn 
and  other  wise  biblical  critics,  as  much  as  Gibbon,  Nie¬ 
buhr  and  other  modern  historians,  as  much  as  Hume, 
Kaimes  and  all  the  philosophers  may  summarily  require; 
still,  he  cannot  doubt  but  that  Palestine  and  the  neigh¬ 
bouring  countries  once  contained  a  population  incom¬ 
parably  greater  than  at  the  present  day,  unparalleled, 
perhaps,  in  modern  times,  except  in  the  empires  of 
China  and  Japan. 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


181 


Delhi ,  formerly  the  capital  of  Hindostan,  the  boast  of 
India,  and  the  seat  of  the  great  Mogul,  was  estimated  to 
contain  2,000,000  of  inhabitants.  Pelcin ,  according  to 
information  given  to  Lord  Macartney,  contains  no  less 
than  3,000,000.  Jedclo ,  in  1812,  as  the  Japanese  stated 
to  Golowan,  had  a  population  of  10,000,000!  I  do  not 
vouch  for  the  strict  accuracy  of  these  figures;  and  the 
reporters  cannot  be  easily  questioned  just  now.  Thebes 
wras  believed  by  the  Egyptians,  according  to  Diodorus,  to 
have  been  the  first  city  founded  upon  the  earth ;  and  we 
certainly  have  no  account  of  any  more  ancient  since  the 
flood.  Its  population  has  been  calculated  from  sundry 
hints  and  traditionary  fragments,  variously,  at  from  one 
to  twenty  millions.  Its  most  flourishing  period  preceded 
the  building  of  Memphis.  Its  remains  at  this  day  testify 
that  the  oldest  city  in  the  world  has  probably  never  been 
surpassed  in  architectural  grandeur;  and  that  even  its 
population  may  not  have  been  greatly  exaggerated  by 
either  poet  or  historian.  Strabo  says  that,  in  his  time, 
Epirus  was  thinly  inhabited,  but  that  according  to  Tlieo- 
pompus,  whom  he  cites,  it  had  once  been  extremely  popu¬ 
lous.  Paulus  iEmilius,  we  are  told,  destroyed  seventy 
cities  in  Epirus,  and  took  150,000  prisoners?  Who  be¬ 
lieved  this?  At  length,  M.  Pouqueville,  during  a  long 
residence  in  the  dominions  of  the  late  Ali  Pasha,  actually 
discovered  the  remains  of  sixty-five  cities,  quite  able  to 
speak  for  themselves.  I  have  somewhere  seen  an  esti¬ 
mate  which  makes  the  population  of  the  Koman  empire, 
in  the  age  of  Augustus,  to  have  been  4,000,000,000. 
Gibbon,  I  believe,  reduces  it  to  about  120,000,000  in  the 


182 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


reign  of  Claudius.  Even  this  will  do, — especially  when 
it  is  recollected  that,  like  Goguet,  Millot,  Hume,  etc.,  the 
author  of  the  “ Decline  and  Fall”  was  always  rather  par¬ 
tial  to  the  “rule  of  reduction.”  But  of  such  details  and 
speculations  there  is  no  end. 

If  there  be,  however,  any  semblance  of  truth  in  the 
Bible  and  in  other  ancient  authorities,  we  must  concede 
that  the  whole  world  of  which  they  treat  was  densely 
populated.  They  never  speak  of  any  country,  indeed, 
which,  at  the  time,  was  destitute  of  inhabitants,  or  which 
does  not  appear  to  have  been  well  filled  with  inhabitants. 
Sesostris  and  Alexander,  though  a  thousand  years  asun¬ 
der,  found  the  far  East  teeming  with  a  population  as 
redundant  as  ever  swarmed  upon  the  banks  of  the  Nile. 
The  Roman  conquerors  experienced  no  lack  of  hostile 
numbers  in  their  marches  through  the  remotest  and  most 
ungenial  climes.  In  Africa,  in  Asia,  in  Gaul,  Germany, 
Britain,  Scythia,  everywhere,  they  met  and  encountered 
host  after  host;  and  the  wonder  is,  after  reading  their 
own  accounts  of  the  battles  and  the  slain,  that  the  earth 
had  not  been  utterly  depopulated  and  converted  into  a 
dreary  wilderness. 

I  cannot  doubt,  therefore,  that  the  world  was  vastly 
more  populous  during  the  whole  period  which  intervened 
from  the  age  of  Noah  to  that  of  Constantine,  than  it  has 
been  at  any  time  since.  Population  diminished  rapidly 
after  the  decline  and  fall  of  the  Roman  empire.  It  con¬ 
tinued  to  diminish  during  the  dark  ages.  And  it  has 
been  on  the  advance  only  within  the  last  two  or  three 
centuries.  I  speak  chiefly  of  countries  known  to  history. 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


183 


As  to  the  Chinese  and  some  other  Oriental  nations,  they 
may  have  suffered  less  in  this  respect;  and  they  may 
still  serve  as  a  specimen  and  index  of  what  the  popula¬ 
tion  of  other  nations  may  once  have  been.  China  at 
this  day,  with  a  territory  considerably  smaller  than  that 
of  the  United  States,  is  supposed  to  contain  nearly  half 
the  population  usually  allotted  to  the  whole  wTorld. 
They  are,  too,  the  most  industrious,  intelligent,  con¬ 
tented,  happy,  peaceful,  orderly,  age-honouring,  home¬ 
keeping  and  specie-paying  people  on  the  globe.  And 
they  would  be  the  most  temperate  also,  if  Christian 
avarice  would  let  them  alone.  What  would  be  the 
population  of  the  earth,  if  it  were  everywhere  equal 
to  that  of  China?  Why  may  it  not  thus  have  been? 
Why  should  it  not  thus  be?  The  very  prospect,  nay, 
the  possibility  of  such  an  event  would  annihilate  the 
Malthusian  heresy,  with  all  its  unchristian  dogmatism, 
and  unsocial  restraints,  and  arbitrary  provisions,  and 
terrific  conclusions.  Happily,  it  has  not  yet  invaded 
or  disturbed  the  repose  of  the  Celestial  Empire. 

I  think,  then,  we  may  warrantably  conclude  that,  be¬ 
fore  the  death  of  Peleg  (according  to  anj^  chronological 
system)  the  earth  might  have  been  peopled  throughout  its 
entire  extent;  and  that  there  were,  at  the  birth  of  Peleg, 
inhabitants  enough  to  furnish  colonies  for  every  principal 
division  or  important  locality  upon  the  globe. 

The  doubts,  suspicion  and  incredulity  so  generally 
manifested  in  regard  to  a  large  portion  of  the  (so  called) 
extraordinary  facts,  personages,  events  and  statistics, 
mentioned  by  ancient  writers,  have  resulted  from  the 


184 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


prevalent  but  groundless  assumption,  that  they  all  per¬ 
tain  to  a  rude  and  barbarous  age;  and  are  therefore  to 
be  regarded  as  fictions  or  exaggerations.  Their  hypoth¬ 
esis  about  the  primitive  state  is  a  perpetual  stumbling- 
block  at  every  turn.  Until  they  set  out  right,  they  will 
never  interpret  correctly  or  estimate  fairly  the  works, 
the  archives  or  the  character  of  antiquity.  Their  theory 
obscures  and  circumscribes  their  vision.  It  exacts  from 
their  judgment  a  verdict  at  variance  with  all  sorts  and 
degrees  of  evidence.  Not  only  must  every  ancient  pro¬ 
fane  document  yield  to  this  arbitrary  test,  but  the  Bible 
itself  cannot  escape  their  critical  tortures,  or  conjectu¬ 
ral  emendations,  or  supercilious  disregard.  It  constrains 
them  to  “beg  the  question/’  to  reason  in  a  circle,  and  to 
avail  themselves  of  “trifles  light  as  air”  to  uphold  their 
baseless  fabric.  The  Greeks  and  the  Bomans  are  their 
standard  of  perfection,  by  which  to  measure  all  other 
ancient  nations;  and  the  remoter  were  any  of  these,  in 
either  time  or  space,  so  much  the  worse  is  the  sentence 
awarded.  Because  the  Greeks  and  Romans  did  not  know 
this,  or  could  not  do  that ,  therefore  the  Phoenicians  and 
Egyptians  must  have  been  still  more  ignorant  and  less 
capable.  And  by  the  same  rule,  the  contemporaries  of 
Noah  and  Adam  were  little  better  than  children  and 
infants.  The  old  Egyptians  could  not  construct  an  arch; 
ergo  they  were  but  clumsy  novices  in  architecture,  and 
consequently  in  all  the  arts.  True,  they  were  able,  with¬ 
out  mechanical  science,  and  by  mere  brute  force,  “to  pile 
Ossa  upon  Pelion,”  but  too  stupid  to  build  a  Dutch  oven 
or  a  cabbage  vault;  when,  lo!  the  arch  is  discovered  in 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


185 


the  catacombs  and  among  the  mummies  of  the  Pharaohs, 
in  the  temples  which  for  ages  had  been  forgotten  and 
buried  beneath  the  sands  of  the  desert,  in  the  bosom  of 
the  great  pyramid,  which  had  grown  hoary  with  years, 
centuries  before  the  Parthenon  or  Coliseum  had  been 
dreamt  of!  The  aborigines  of  America  knew  nothing  of 
the  arch  or  of  iron,  nothing  of  butter,  cheese,  roast-beef 
or  wheaten  bread ;  therefore  they  must  have  sprung  from 
an  ancestry  equally  rude  and  helpless;  or  they  must 
have  come  hither  before  those  wonderful  mysteries  had 
been  revealed  to  mankind  in  the  old  world ! 

Here  I  may  add,  that  theories  about  the  American 
Indians  are  generally  formed  from  exceedingly  imperfect 
data — often  from  no  data  at  all — and  that  the  same  facts 
and  observations  sometimes  lead  to  directly  conflicting 
theories.  Thus,  I  am  acquainted  with  intelligent  indi¬ 
viduals  in  Tennessee,  who  have  resided  many  years 
among  the  Cherokees  and  profess  to  know  them  thor¬ 
oughly,  who  differ  widely  in  their  deductions  respecting 
their  origin  and  national  affinities.  One,  a  most  respect¬ 
able  clergyman,  at  present  a  citizen  of  Nashville,  is  per¬ 
fectly  satisfied  from  his  own  personal  investigations 
among  the  natives,  that  they  are  the  genuine  descend¬ 
ants  of  Israel’s  long-lost  ten  tribes.  Of  the  same  opin¬ 
ion  was  a  late  learned  judge  of  our  supreme  State  court. 
Both  have  written  ably  in  support  of  their  views;  which 
accord,  in  the  main,  with  those  of  Adair  and  Boudinot. 
Others  refer  them,  as  well  as  the  adjacent  tribes,  to  the 
nomadic  races  of  Northern  Asia;  and  others  again,  to 
the  Southern  Malays.  I  have  been  strongly  inclined  to 


186 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


the  latter  opinion  myself,  both  from  a  slight  inspection 
of  a  few  Indians  and  still  fewer  Malays  at  different  times 
and  places,  and  from  the  statements  and  reasoning  of 
more  competent  observers.  It  is  probable  that  Asia  and 
Europe,  as  well  as  Africa,  have  contributed  more  or  less 
to  the  population  of  this  continent.  How  do  we  know 
after  all  that  the  Mongols  are  not  descended  from  Ham? 
I  mean  the  Mongols  of  the  naturalist,  as  distinguished 
from  the  Indo-Germanic  hordes  and  Caucasian  Tartars, 
with  whom  they  have  been  long  mingled  and  often  con¬ 
founded.  It  might  he  rather  difficult  also  to  prove  that 
the  Malays  are  of  the  Semitic  stock,  or  that  they  too  are 
not  the  posterity  of  Ham.  It  would  be  curious,  if  all  the 
degraded  and  degrading  varieties  of  the  human  species, 
namely,  the  Negro,  the  Mongol,  the  Malayan  and  the 
American,  should  appear  at  length  to  belong  to  the  great 
family  of  the  African  patriarch. 

But  it  was  not  my  purpose  in  these  notes  to  propound, 
much  less  to  advocate  any  new  or  peculiar  theory.  On 
the  whole,  however,  I  favour  the  hypothesis,  that  the 
indigenous  Americans  have  occupied  this  continent  from 
the  earliest  times— that  they  came  hither  at  the  epoch 
of  the  grand  dispersion — that  they  constitute  one  of  the 
original  varieties  which  have  existed  ever  since  —  that 
they  are  presumptively  of  the  Hamite  family,  and  are 
now  experiencing  the  effects  of  the  divine  denunciation 
uttered  by  Noah  against  their  wicked  progenitor. 

Their  high  antiquity  cannot  be  doubted  or  disputed, 
unless  a  similar  race  can  be  found  in  the  other  hemi¬ 
sphere,  from  which  they  might  have  been  derived  at  a 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  187 


more  recent  date.  Their  savage  character  and  condition 
can  be  as  easily  accounted  for  as  the  degeneracy  of  their 
kindred  in  Africa  or  of  any  other  portion  of  the  human 
family.  No  people,  known  in  history  to  have  been  civil¬ 
ized,  have  ever  become  absolute  savages  in  their  aim 
country ;  though  many  have  sunk  into  the  lowest  depths 
of  ignorance  and  wretchedness;  the  modern  Egyptians, 
Syrians,  Arabs,  Greeks,  for  example.  Still  none  of  these 
are  savages.  The  savage  state  preceded  all  history  ex¬ 
cept  the  Bible;  but  it  did  not  precede  civilization.  That 
Noah  and  his  immediate  descendants  were  civilized — 
that  their  posterity,  who  never  removed  from  the  father- 
land  or  who  settled  in  the  countries  adjacent,  were  civil¬ 
ized,  and  have  continued  to  be  civilized  to  this  day, 
though  degraded  in  all  respects — is  attested  by  Scrip¬ 
ture,  by  history,  and  by  all  observation.  It  was  the 
unfortunate  destiny  of  the  colonists  who  wandered  far, 
and  in  small  companies,  and  in  destitute  circumstances, 
and  who  were  suddenly  cut  off  from  all  intercourse  with 
their  home  and  with  their  brethren,  to  become  savages. 
It  was  one  of  the  first  and  most  disastrous  results  of  the 
dispersion  of  mankind,  and  a  part  of  the  punishment 
inflicted,  we  may  presume,  on  the  most  guilty  among 
the  numerous  transgressors  who  provoked  the  divine 
displeasure.  And  if  the  principal  or  greatest  sufferers 
in  this  respect  were  children  of  Ham,  may  we  not  still 
witness  the  literal  fulfilment  of  the  patriarchal  maledic¬ 
tion  throughout  America,  as  well  as  in  Africa. 

Whatever  indications  exist  or  may  yet  be  discovered 
of  a  former  civilization,  I  repeat,  can  have  no  connexion 


188 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


with  the  aborigines.  They  are  to  be  regarded  as  the 
work  of  a  different  and  superior  race — of  temporary  occu¬ 
pants,  it  may  be,  or  of  trading  adventurers — or,  at  most, 
of  merely  local  settlers,  who  never  extended  their  influ- 
ence  or  conquests  over  the  wide  land.  The  Phoenicians 
were  a  trading,  not  a  conquering  people.  They  built 
cities,  at  various  distant  ports,  for  commercial  purposes; 
and  they  would  have  pursued  the  same  policy  in  Mexico 
and  Peru,  had  they  ever  learned  the  way  to  those  golden 
regions.  The  Chinese  and  Hindus,  probably,  would  have 
acted  in  the  same  fashion.  But  let  the  facts  be  first 
ascertained,  and  then  probably  there  will  be  less  scope 
for  conjecture  and  castle-building. 


RELIGIOUS  PREJUDICES. 


RELIGIOUS  PREJUDICES. 


Sir  William  Jones,  at  the  commencement  of  an  essay, 
in  which  he  proposes  to  draw  a  parallel  between  the  gods 
of  the  Indian  and  European  heathens,  makes  the  follow¬ 
ing  liberal  preliminary  remark:  “I  shall  remember  that 
nothing  is  less  favourable  to  inquiries  after  truth  than  a 
systematical  spirit:  and  shall  call  to  mind  the  saying  of 
a  Hindu  writer,  ‘that  whoever  obstinately  adheres  to 
any  set  of  opinions  may  bring  himself  to  believe  that 
the  freshest  sandal  wood  is  a  flame  of  fire.’” 

To  rise  above  vulgar  prejudices,  is  generally  esteemed 
an  evidence  of  an  enlightened  and  superior  mind.  If  by 
this,  nothing  more  were  meant,  than  a  rejection  of  error 
for  the  sake  of  truth,  or  an  honest  disposition  to  seek 
and  to  embrace  truth  to  the  utter  renunciation  of  error, 
in  defiance  of  all  our  previous  opinions  and  habits,  we 
should  not  object  to  the  position.  Such  a  determination, 
if  rigidly  adhered  to,  does  certainly  evince  much  candour 
of  temper  and  strength  of  intellect.  But  if  the  declaim- 
ers  against  vulgar  prejudices  expect  us  to  be  divested  of 
every  prejudice  before  we  can  be  qualified  for  the  fair 
investigation  of  truth  or  for  its  reception,  we  humbly 
conceive  that  they  quite  overshoot  the  mark,  by  making 
a  demand  on  poor  human  nature  which  it  neither  can 

nor  ought  to  yield.  All  men  have  prejudices.  They 

(101) 


192 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


imbibe  them  unconsciously  and  imperceptibly  from  the 
first  moments  in  which  impressions  are  made  on  the 
senses  from  any  causes. 

Prejudice  is  a  prejudgment  —  or  a  judgment  formed 
beforehand,  without  examination  —  an  anticipation  of 
knowledge — a  preconceived  opinion — or  an  opinion  em¬ 
braced  without  proof,  or,  at  least,  before  the  mind  has 
ever  comprehended  the  proof  which  supports  it. 

The  majority  of  every  man’s  sentiments  and  principles 
may,  with  much  propriety,  be  denominated  prejudices, 
lie  has  received  them  from  his  parents,  from  his  nurse, 
from  his  teachers,  from  his  associates,  from  accidental 
circumstances,  from  the  peculiarity  of  his  position  and 
rank  in  society,  from  the  particular  form  of  government 
and  religion  of  his  country,  from  partial  reading,  and 
from  all  those  numerous  and  nameless  causes  and  influ¬ 
ences  which  give  variety  to  life,  and  which  impart  a 
specific  colouring  to  every  man’s  character  and  destiny. 
Many  of  these  prejudices  are  doubtless  good  and  well- 
founded,  though  we  may  never  trouble  ourselves  at  all 
about  the  foundation  on  which  they  rest.  The  mass  of 
mankind,  in  every  country,  are  actuated  and  governed 
by  their  prejudices.  They  neither  reflect  nor  reason  for 
themselves.  If  their  prejudices  happen  to  be  correct, 
they  generally  prove  orderly  and  useful  citizens  or  sub¬ 
jects.  And  we  certainly  feel  no  desire  to  interrupt  the 
tranquillity  of  such  virtuous  well-meaning  persons,  by 
suggesting  a  single  doubt,  or  by  throwing  a  single  diffi¬ 
culty  in  their  way.  Let  them  live  and  die  under  the 
salutary  influence  of  prejudice.  Let  the  Laplander  love 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


193 


his  freezing  snows,  and  the  African  his  burning  sun.  It 
is  a  happy  prejudice  which  inclines  him  to  prefer  his 
dreary  native  regions  to  every  other  country.  Were  it 
not  for  this  prejudice,  this  invincible  amor  pa, trial,  half 
the  globe  would  be  destitute  of  inhabitants.  It  is  there¬ 
fore  an  innocent  and  very  beneficial  prejudice.  This  is 
one  instance.  Many  more  of  a  similar  kind  might  be 
mentioned.  Happy  would  it  be  for  the  human  family 
were  all  their  prejudices  equally  harmless.  Happy  if 
their  prejudices  on  subjects  of  deep  and  lasting  moment 
were  always  in  favour  of  truth. 

But  the  fact  is  far  otherwise.  The  ten  thousand 
totally  dissimilar  and  contradictory  political  and  relig¬ 
ious  systems  which  prevail  in  the  world,  and  which  com¬ 
mand  the  affections  of  men,  incontestably  prove  that  the 
prejudices  of  the  far  greater  proportion  of  our  race  are 
erroneous.  These  prejudices,  too,  are  inveterate.  It  is 
scarcely  possible  to  eradicate  them  from  the  minds  of 
any  considerable  number.  And  it  is  always  dangerous 
to  attack  the  prejudices  of  the  multitude  in  an  open  and 
direct  manner.  Such  an  attack  generally  tends  to  bind 
them  more  strongly  to  their  errors:  or  if  it  should  pro¬ 
duce  an  opposite  effect,  the  consequences  are  oftentimes 
much  more  deplorable.  This  is  eminently  the  case  with 
regard  to  religious  prejudices.  The  falsest  views  and 
notions  of  religion  are  better  than  none.  Without  the 
fear  of  God,  in  some  form,  operating  on  the  mind  and 
conscience  of  men,  human  laws  become  nugatory,  and 
society  is  at  an  end.  Witness  France — so  often  cited 
on  similar  occasions— soon  after  the  commencement  of 
vol.  m. — 13 


194 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


her  revolutionary  tumults.  Her  ignorant  volatile  people 
were  so  powerfully  wrought  upon  by  the  disguised  ene¬ 
mies  of  truth,  that  they  were  at  length  induced  to  tram¬ 
ple  in  the  dust  the  entire  fabric  which  papal  tyranny 
and  superstition  had  erected  among  them,  to  burst  in 
sunder  the  chains  by  which  they  had  been  for  ages  fet¬ 
tered,  and  to  rush  into  all  the  extravagancies  of  atheistic 
licentiousness.  No  substitute  was  offered  them  for  the 
absurdities  of  a  religion  which  they  so  hastily  abandoned. 
The  result  was  natural,  and  might  have  been  anticipated. 
Every  benevolent  oppugner  of  popular  religious  prejudice 
will  proceed  with  cautious  steps;  and  endeavour  to  give 
at  least  an  equivalent — something  true  and  salutary — 
for  what  is  false  and  mischievous.  Otherwise  he  had 
better  be  content  to  let  prejudice  reign  undisturbed. 

These  hasty  and  desultory  remarks  we  have  thought 
proper  to  premise  as  illustrative  of  the  subject  generally. 
We  profess  not,  however,  to  be  the  advocates  of  prejudice 
any  further  than  the  welfare  of  society  and  the  frailty  of 
our  nature  seem  to  render  unavoidable.  The  ignorant 
multitude  are,  and  necessarily  must  be,  under  its  domin¬ 
ion.  Let  them  therefore  be  excused,  and  pass  without 
censure  or  rebuke. 

But  can  we  extend  the  same  indulgence  to  men  who 
claim  the  distinction  of  scholars — of  free  inquirers  after 
truth  —  who,  notwithstanding  their  superior  opportuni¬ 
ties,  and  their  high  pretensions  to  science  and  liberality, 
do  yet  entertain  partial  and  bigoted  sentiments  on  any 
subject  which  they  profess  to  have  investigated,  and 
which  they  certainly  might  have  investigated  to  its  very 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


195 


foundations  and  throughout  all  its  hearings  and  connex¬ 
ions?  Is  it  not  the  prerogative  of  science  to  dispel  error, 
to  remove  prejudice  or  to  convert  what  was  once  preju¬ 
dice,  into  certain  knowledge  or  indisputable  truth,  by  a 
lucid  development  of  the  evidence  on  which  it  rests? 
But  when  she  fails  to  produce  this  effect  in  her  votaries 
—  when  even  the  comparatively  enlightened  favoured 
few,  who  affect  to  despise  the  ignoble  vulgar,  evince  an 
uncandid,  dogmatical,  opinionative  spirit,  an  obstinate 
adherence  to  tenets  which  they  have  adopted,  they  can¬ 
not  tell  whence  or  wherefore — what  can  be  reasonably 
urged  in  their  defence  or  justification?  Or  what  benefit 
do  they  derive  from  science,  if  their  minds  be  not  suffi¬ 
ciently  enlarged  and  liberalized  to  qualify  and  dispose 
them  to  look  into  their  own  hearts,  and  to  scrutinize  the 
opinions  and  doctrines  which  they  may  have  been  accus¬ 
tomed  to  cherish  as  indubitable  or  as  innate  verities? 

We  do  not  mean  to  insinuate  that  a  man,  in  order  to 
become  truly  learned  upon  any  subject,  ought  forthwith 
to  renounce  all  his  previously  acquired  ideas  of  that  sub¬ 
ject — to  become,  as  it  were,  a  tabula  rasa — that  he  may 
be  enabled  to  proceed  dispassionately  and  without  bias, 
till  he  shall  arrive  at  truth  by  fair  demonstration  or  in¬ 
duction.  We  would  not  reduce  him  to  a  state  of  infancy 
with  a  view  to  rectify  the  obliquities  of  premature  man¬ 
hood.  This  would  be  impossible.  But  we  ask  him  to 
exercise  his  reason  in  subjecting  to  a  legitimate  test  the 
materials  already  stored  in  his  mind.  We  ask  him  to  be 
ready  to  give  the  proof  of  what  he  professes  to  believe; 
and  not  like  mere  children  to  appeal  to  the  authority  of 


196 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


parents  and  teachers,  or  like  orthodox  Romanists,  who 
believe  because  the  church  believes.  We  ask  him  to 
venture  beyond  the  bare  ipse  dixit  of  philosopher  or 
priest  or  favourite  author,  and  to  learn  why  his  master 
has  taught  him  thus,  or  why  this  particular  creed  or 
system  has  been  imposed  on  his  mind  and  incorporated 
with  his  feelings  rather  than  another.  We  ask  him,  in  a 
word,  to  be  open  to  conviction.  Not  to  become  a  skeptic 
in  order  to  escape  delusion. 

When  a  man  has  once  reached  this  point,  he  is  in  a 
fair  way  to  discover  truth  and  cordially  to  embrace  it. 
He  may  then  be  said  to  have  begun  to  be  divested  of 
prejudice.  He  is  prepared  to  canvass  systems  and  opin¬ 
ions  which  had  once  been  his  aversion;  to  give  a  candid 
hearing  to  men  and  parties  which  all  his  early  habits 
and  notions  had  led  him  to  oppose  and  despise.  Names 
no  longer  alarm  him,  however  odious  they  may  be  to 
the  particular  party  or  sect  or  denomination  with  which 
birth  and  education  may  have  connected  him.  It  is 
truth,  under  whatever  guise  or  name  she  appears,  that 
he  is  now  in  search  of.  Such  a  man  is  liberal,  forbear¬ 
ing,  tolerant,  generous,  independent,  just  and  modest. 
He  never  condemns  hastily,  nor  without  adequate  cause. 
And  if  his  researches  shall  have  made  him  acquainted 
with  the  Bible — as  they  necessarily  would,  if  he  have 
the  happiness  to  live  in  a  Protestant  Christian  country 
- — we  may  then  behold  in  him  an  edifying  example  of 
what  is  so  rarely  to  be  met  with — a  truly  charitable 
man.  In  the  Bible  he  finds  truth,  pure  and  unadulter¬ 
ated,  substantial  and  cheering  to  the  soul.  Before  its 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


197 


celestial  light,  all  his  religious  prejudices  vanish  away. 
And  his  faith  is  settled,  as  upon  a  rock,  never  more  to 
be  shaken. 

But  why  then  are  not  all  Christians  of  one  mind  and 
of  one  faith?  Why  do  they  not,  at  least,  live  together 
in  the  exercise  of  love  and  mutual  forbearance  ?  If 
charity  be  the  essential  pervading  attribute  of  our  holy 
religion;  should  we  not  expect  that  her  friends  would  be 
friends  to  one  another?  Should  we  not  expect,  more¬ 
over,  that  much  unanimity  of  sentiment  would  obtain 
among  men  who  derive  their  notions  or  doctrines  from 
one  and  the  same  source?  This,  we  think,  might  rea¬ 
sonably  have  been  anticipated.  For  we  certainly  should 
never  have  conjectured,  previously  to  a  knowledge  of  the 
fact,  that  so  many  discordant  opinions  as  are  entertained 
in  the  Christian  world,  could  ever  have  claimed  a  shadow 
of  support  from  the  great  charter  of  a  religion  so  pre¬ 
eminently  gracious  and  benevolent  in  its  nature  and 
object.  Strange  that  so  many  inconsistencies  should 
exist  in  a  book,  the  avowed  design  and  tendency  of 
which  are  so  plain  and  obvious  that  even  the  most 
illiterate  may  readily  understand  and  obey  its  precepts. 
Strange  that  the  Holy  Scriptures,  the  volume  of  inspira¬ 
tion,  the  only  unerring  guide  to  mortals  through  this 
world  of  darkness,  sin  and  trial,  the  only  revelation  ever 
vouchsafed  by  the  infinitely  wise  and  good  Jehovah  to 
his  creatures — strange,  inconceivably  strange,  that  the 
work  of  such  a  Being,  and  given  for  so  great  and  so  kind 
a  purpose,  could  be  fairly  construed  or  even  plausibly 
perverted  so  as  to  countenance  the  multiform,  absurd, 


198  MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 

pernicious  and  contradictory  dogmas  which  have  been 
ascribed  to  it  or  extorted  from  it. 

We  must  believe  that  a  revelation  from  God  could 
not  be  justly  obnoxious  to  such  variety  of  constructions: 
otherwise  we  take  from  it  all  certainty  and  all  value. 
Its  grand  paramount  object  must  be  something  definite, 
unequivocal  and  explicit.  If  then  the  Bible  does  contain 
a  revelation  of  the  Divine  will — and  that  it  does,  all  the 
contending  parties  agree — it  necessarily  follows  that  its 
main  scope  and  design  must  be  clear  and  precise,  and 
altogether  above  the  misconception  of  any  candid  mind. 
But  were  we  to  j  udge  of  the  gospel  exclusively  from  the 
conduct  and  writings  of  very  many  Christian  doctors  and 
divines,  we  should  be  apt  to  conclude  that  it  consisted  of 
some  antiquated  collection  of  ambiguous,  metaphorical, 
mysterious,  oracular,  enigmatical  phrases  and  sentences 
— similar  to  the  far-famed  Sibylline  verses — which  had 
been  purposely  contrived  or  accidentally  arranged,  to  be¬ 
wilder  and  perplex  the  human  intellect,  and  to  defy  all 
rational  interpretation.  And  yet,  we  feel  assured,  that 
the  gospel  is  light;  and  that,  like  its  glorious  Author,  in 
it  there  is  no  darkness  at  all.  It  unfolds  to  us  a  system 
of  morals  and  a  plan  of  salvation,  which,  however  de¬ 
praved  ingenuity  may  misrepresent  or  reckless  impiety 
assail  and  asperse  it,  cannot  fail  to  command  the  rever¬ 
ence,  and  to  meet  the  wants  and  fears  and  hopes  of  the 
humble,  the  ingenuous  and  the  devout. 

It  becomes  then  a  matter  of  some  curiosity  at  least, 
to  inquire  whence  such  various  and  conflicting  opinions 
have  arisen  with  respect  to  its  doctrines  and  provisions; 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


199 


and  why  these  still  continue  to  be  held  by  honest  and 
dishonest,  learned  and  unlearned  Christians,  in  every 
land  where  the  light  and  privileges  of  the  gospel  are 
most  abundantly  diffused  and  enjoyed?  Whence  is  it 
that  the  mild,  benevolent,  peace-speaking  religion  of 
Jesus  has  been,  and  still  is,  disgraced  by  the  wranglings 
and  disputes  of  those  who  are  solemnly  commanded  by 
their  common  Lord  to  dwell  together  in  unity  and  love, 
as  the  brethren  of  one  family,  and  the  servants  of  one 
Master?  Neither  the  nature  of  this  religion,  nor  the 
volume  which  records  it,  furnishes  any  solution  of  the 
difficulty.  No  reason  can  there  be  discovered  for  such 
uncharitable  dissensions. 

The  truth  is,  that  all  these  differences,  and  all  the  con¬ 
troversies  which  have  agitated  the  Christian  church,  are 
chargeable,  in  some  sense,  to  prejudice — to  the  study  and 
influence  of  theological  systems,  composed  by  schoolmen 
or  philosophers,  or  spiritual  dogmatists,  or  zealous  enthu¬ 
siasts,  or  aspiring  ecclesiastical  demagogues,  and  addressed 
to  the  credulity  of  their  disciples,  either  as  a  substitute 
for  the  Bible  or  as  a  complete  exposition  of  its  doctrines. 
Thus  we  have  embodied,  in  the  elaborate  tomes  of  divin¬ 
ity  designed  for  the  training  of  the  youthful  minister,  and 
in  the  numberless  religious  books,  tracts  and  catechisms 
prepared  expressly  for  the  laity,  all  sorts  of  crude  specu¬ 
lation,  of  ingenious  sophistry,  of  mystic  reveries,  of  mon¬ 
strous  hallucinations,  of  logical  subtleties  and  metaphysi¬ 
cal  refinements,  which  either  human  reason,  or  passion, 
or  fancy,  or  ambition,  or  wisdom,  or  folly  or  cunning,  or 
hypocrisy,  may  have  been  able  to  achieve  or  to  inculcate. 


200 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


This  heterogeneous  mixture  of  human  absurdities  with 
Divine  revelation,  has  caused,  and  still  nourishes,  that 
captious  persecuting  spirit  which  has  reigned  for  ages  in 
the  church.  The  gospel  had  scarcely  appeared  in  the 
world,  when  it  began  to  be  adulterated  by  human  con¬ 
trivances.  Among  the  Jews,  it  received  much  of  its 
colouring  from  the  Mosaic  law  and  those  traditionary 
institutions  to  which  they  were  obstinately  attached. 
Nor  even  among  these  did  Christianity  exhibit  one  uni¬ 
form  hue,  but  was  diversely  shaded  according  to  the 
peculiarities  of  the  several  sects  which  embraced  it: — 
as  Pharisees,  Sadducees,  Essenes  and  Herodians. 

The  Greeks  and  Romans,  also,  very  soon  endeavoured 
to  incorporate  their  favourite  philosophy  with  the  body 
of  the  gospel.  The  disciples  of  Pythagoras,  of  Zeno,  of 
Epicurus,  of  Plato,  of  Aristotle,  did  not  fail  to  discover 
some  kind  of  resemblance  between  many  of  their  maxims 
and  those  of  the  Messiah.  And  even  where  there  evi¬ 
dently  was  none  at  all,  pride  and  prejudice  prompted 
them  to  fancy  or  create  one.  They  had  been  long  accus¬ 
tomed  to  yield  implicit  credence  to  the  word  of  their 
masters;  whose  dogmas  they  frequently  revered  as  eter¬ 
nal  and  immutable  truths.  They  sought  therefore  to 
bend  the  gospel  to  suit  their  own  preconceived  opinions, 
instead  of  examining  these  before  the  light  of  revelation. 
The  same  observation  may  apply  to  the  admirers  of  the 
Oriental  philosophy,  which  gave  rise  to  the  Gnostic  and 
Manichean  heresies.  And  in  every  country  where  the 
gospel  was  preached,  there  flourished  a  system  of  opin¬ 
ions  deeply  rooted  in  the  minds  of  all  classes  of  men. 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS 


201 


These,  the  gospel  had  to  encounter:  and  it  succeeded  be¬ 
yond  all  human  probability — in  a  degree,  indeed,  which 
no  human  means  could  have  effected.  The  banners  of 
the  cross  were  unfurled  in  every  region  perhaps  of  the 
habitable  earth:  and  multitudes  submitted  unreservedly 
to  its  heavenly  precepts.  But  many,  however,  and  those 
generally  of  the  most  learned  and  ingenious,  yielded  only 
in  part.  They  chose  to  form  to  themselves  a  mixed  sys¬ 
tem — a  compound  of  truth  and  error.  So  that,  in  a  little 
space,  the  vcorld  presented  as  great  a  variety  of  Scripture 
glosses,  or  rather  mongrel  gospels,  as  there  were  schools 
of  philosophy. 

Some  were  led  by  comparisons  instituted  between 
Christ  and  the  ancient  sages,  to  treat  them  all  with  the 
same  veneration  and  respect.  Thus  Alexander  Severus 
paid  divine  honours  indiscriminately  to  Christ  and  to 
Orpheus,  to  Apollonius,  and  the  other  philosophers  and 
heroes  wdiose  names  were  famous  in  history  or  in  fable. 

Christianity  therefore  was  constantly  fluctuating  and 

* 

changing  its  aspect,  according  to  the  caprice,  or  genius, 
or  learning  of  the  great  fathers  and  doctors  who  pro¬ 
fessed  to  teach  it  ex  cathedra  and  agreeably  to  the  most 
approved  systems  and  authorities.  They  seem  never  to 
have  thought  of  regulating  their  studies  and  researches 
by  Scripture  alone.  To  study  theology,  was  to  study  a 
system  constructed  by  some  celebrated  bishop  or  divine, 
who  had  devoted  his  days  and  nights  to  the  dialectics  of 
Aristotle  or  to  the  more  captivating  morality  of  Plato; 
and  who,  of  course,  had  warped  and  perverted  every  gos¬ 
pel  tenet  to  some  kind  of  conformity  to  his  own  peculiar 


202 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


and  more  rational  theory.  Thus  we  may  perceive  that 
the  gospel  was  not  the  cause  of  the  early  divisions  in 
the  church;  but  that  these  resulted  solely  from  human 
devices  and  prejudices  and  anti-scriptural  systems. 

And  when  we  contemplate  the  rapid  progress  of  error 
in  the  world — the  innumerable  forms  which  the  gospel 
was  made  to  assume — the  bitter  animosities  and  furious 
contests  which  arose  about  the  most  insignificant  quib¬ 
bles  and  conceits — the  colleges  of  divinity  converted  into 
nurseries  of  mere  logomachy, — where,  instead  of  the  gos¬ 
pel,  youth  were  carefully  disciplined  to  manage  with 
adroitness  the  noisy  artillery  of  the  most  contemptible 
logic  and  metaphysics  that  ever  disgraced  the  seats  of 
science  and  religion — we  may  then  have  some  faint  con¬ 
ception  of  the  extravagant  absurdities  to  which  a  blind 
devotion  to  human  systems  evidently  conducted  nearly 
the  whole  Christian  world  antecedently  to  the  Reforma- 
tion. 

The  seminaries  of  learning  in  the  middle  ages,  were 
constantly  thronged  with  champions  who  eagerly  sought 
distinction  by  entering  the  lists  of  public  disputation; 
who  were  fired  with  ambitious  zeal  to  vanquish  an  oppo¬ 
nent  in  some  notable  controversy,  which  was  oftentimes 
unimportant  in  its  very  nature — ambiguous  in  its  terms 
— a  mere  play  upon  words — or,  at  best,  a  matter  of  per¬ 
fect  indifference  whether  decided  in  one  way  or  another, 
or  in  no  way  at  all.  It  is  almost  incredible  that  these 
scholastic  sophists  could  have  excited  so  much  interest 
as  is  everywhere  assigned  to  them  in  history.  That 
men  of  the  first-rate  talents  and  acquirements  should 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


203 


sacrifice  their  time,  health  and  comfort  for  the  despicable 
pleasure  of  clearing  up  difficulties  -which  never  existed 
but  in  their  own  brain — of  reconciling  contradictions  by 
renouncing  common  sense — establishing  axioms  by  rigor¬ 
ous  demonstration,  and  thereby  obscuring  the  simplest 
truths,  and  which  every  tyro  comprehends  and  believes 
the  moment  he  hears  them  announced  —  is,  indeed,  a 
severe  and  most  humiliating  satire  upon  poor  arrogant 
human  nature.  Scripture,  reason,  conscience,  were  all 
rejected.  And  the  venerable,  sagacious,  infallible  suc¬ 
cessors  of  St.  Peter  wisely  ventured  to  rear  their  proud 
temple  of  superstition,  power  and  grandeur,  upon  a  much 
more  convenient  and  stable  basis. 

Whenever  a  sanctimonious  aspiring  dignitary  wished 
to  introduce  any  innovations  in  faith  or  ritual  —  to 
strengthen  his  authority  or  augment  his  revenue- — no¬ 
thing  more  was  necessary  than  to  summon  to  his  aid 
the  subtle  schoolmen  and  dependent  clergy,  who  were 
so  thoroughly  practised  in  the  manoeuvres  and  evolu¬ 
tions  of  monkish  tactics  and  ghostly  warfare,  as  easily 
to  convince  or  silence  all  gainsayers,  and  to  induce  the 
besotted  multitude  to  swallow  the  most  palpable  contra¬ 
dictions,  and  to  sanction  the  most  flagrant  immoralities. 
The  people  were  powerfully  prepossessed  in  favour  of  the 
Pope  and  of  the  holy  mother  church.  So  that  any  lesson 
or  mandate  from  such  a  source  was  generally  received 
without  the  least  question  or  scruple.  Thus  the  gigantic 
greatness  of  this  tremendous  anti-Christian  hierarchy 
grew  out  of  the  early  and  gradual  and  steadily  increas¬ 
ing  admixture  of  human  philosophy  and  inventions  with 


204 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


Divine  truth,  and  from  the  final  triumph  of  the  former 
over  the  latter.  Such  an  example,  and  such  a  result, 
may  well  incline  us  to  distrust  all  systems  which  would 
either  supersede  the  diligent  study  of  Scripture,  or  which 
would  preclude  or  control  the  free  exercise  of  our  reason 
in  its  interpretation. 

Have  we  then  amongst  us  none  of  that  crafty,  arro¬ 
gant,  secular,  arbitrary,  inquisitorial,  furious,  vindictive, 
system-building,  church-glorifying  spirit  which  character¬ 
ized  the  darker  ages  of  Romish  fanaticism  and  usurpa¬ 
tion?  That  there  are  numerous  sects  —  all  recognizing 
the  same  gospel — each  believing  the  others  wrong — each 
pertinaciously  adhering  to  its  own  peculiarities — each 
regarding  the  rest  with  a  suspicious  and  evil  eye — and 
all  striving  for  the  mastery  in  some  fashion  or  other — 
will  hardly  be  denied.  Nay,  we  know  that  the  most 
illiberal  and  exasperating  contests  frequently  arise  among 
members  of  the  same  Christian  denomination.  And  to 
what  cause  shall  we,  at  the  present  day,  impute  the 
existence  of  misunderstandings  and  dissensions,  which, 
viewed  through  the  glass  of  history,  appear  so  strange, 
so  puerile,  so  utterly  inconsistent  with  every  Christian 
grace,  and  with  every  principle  of  enlightened  policy  or 
of  ordinary  decorum ;  especially  now,  that  the  light  of 
the  Reformation,  the  invention  of  printing,  the  vast  in¬ 
crease  of  know ledge,  have  dissipated  so  many  errors,  and 
paved  the  way  for  the  detection  of  them  all?  We  are 
constrained  to  attribute  these,  as  similar  effects,  to  the 
same  cause.  Instead  of  going  directly  to  Scripture,  which 
alone  ought  to  he  our  guide,  we  ( i.e .  the  simple,  honest, 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  205 


credulous  mass  of  both  ministers  and  people,)  imbibe  our 
theological  prejudices  and  tenets  from  human  systems 
and  expositions;  or  from  the  dicta  of  some  living  village 
or  sectarian  or  metropolitan  de  facto  pope.  That  is,  we 
adopt  our  religion  before  we  think  of  examining  the  only 
authentic  record  of  its  origin  and  character  in  existence. 

There  is  something  so  preposterous  in  this  mode  of 
procedure  that  we  cannot  divine  a  semblance  of  excuse 
for  pursuing  it.  Unless,  indeed,  we  admit,  what  some 
assert,  that  there  is  danger  of  being  led  astray  by  too 
earty  an  acquaintance  with  Scripture  — that  we  ought 
previously  to  be  well  grounded  in  the  doctrines  of  our 
faith,  in  order  that  we  may  be  less  exposed  to  a  miscon¬ 
ception  of  the  sacred  writers,  and  have  something  settled 
and  fixed  in  our  minds  to  serve  as  a  standard  of  truth. 
As  if  Divine  revelation  were  less  perfect  and  less  intelli- 
gible  than  human  speculation!  As  if  Divine  revelation 
needed  the  wisdom  or  the  ingenuity  of  man  to  illustrate 
its  simplest  principles,  and  to  bring  them  down  to  a  level 
with  common  capacities :  when  we  know  that  the  gospel 
was  originally  preached  by  Christ  and  his  Apostles  to  the 
humblest  and  most  illiterate  of  mankind ! 

By  the  latter  remarks,  we  would  not  intimate  that 
everything  contained  in  the  Bible  can  be  understood  by 
a  mere  perusal  of  the  text, — far  from  it.  There  are 
mysteries — mysterious  facts — which  the  most  gifted  and 
enlightened  mind  can  never  penetrate  or  unfold;  and  in 
examining  which,  the  man  of  science  has  but  little  ad¬ 
vantage  over  the  unlettered  peasant.  There  are  many 
passages  of  a  historic,  prophetic,  political  and  juridical 


206 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


nature —many  poetic  and  allegorical  representations — 
many  singular  allusions  and  graphic  descriptions — many 
sententious  proverbs  and  significant  parables — many  ref¬ 
erences  to  local  customs,  arts  and  ceremonies  —  together 
with  many  embarrassing  difficulties  of  a  mythological, 
geographical,  physiological,  idiomatic  and  critical  char¬ 
acter— which  require  a  most  extensive  and  thorough 
knowledge  of  almost  everything  peculiar  to  the  ancient 
world,  including  the  languages  also  in  which  the  whole 
was  originally  recorded.  We  would,  by  no  means,  there¬ 
fore,  seem  to  depreciate  the  necessity  or  value  of  real 
science  and  profound  scholarship.  The  more  sound 
learning  we  can  acquire,  the  better.  But  away  with 
the  trashy  figments  of  the  scholastic  ages,  in  whatever 
novel  forms  they  may  be  served  up  and  garnished  to 
suit  the  modern  taste  of  knave  or  fool.  Away  with  the 
polemic  dogmatism  and  metaphysical  cant  of  conceited, 
intolerant,  bigoted,  theological  dictators  of  every  church 
and  party.  Genuine  divinity  is  contained  in  the  Scrip¬ 
tures  alone :  and  there  only  can  it  be  learned  in  all  its 
primeval  purity  and  perfection.  Were  we,  therefore,  with 
becoming  diligence,  humble  docility  and  prayerful  sin¬ 
cerity,  to  study  the  Bible,  unbiased  by  prejudice  or 
authority,  we  should  seldom  disagree  in  any  matter  of 
radical  importance.  The  gracious  Author  of  our  religion 
never  designed  to  veil  it  in  clouds  and  darkness  in  order 
to  conceal  it  from  vulgar  eyes. 

Considering  then  the  manifest  simplicity  of  the  gospel, 
and  the  singularly  benevolent  spirit  which  it  breathes, 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


207 


we  might  presume  that  the  accredited  ministers  of  Christ, 
who  serve  at  his  altar,  who  preach  his  cross  and  admin¬ 
ister  his  ordinances,  who  devote  their  lives  to  the  study 
and  dispensation  of  his  word,  would  be  enabled  to  over¬ 
come  all  the  difficulties  which  might  occasion  some  slight 
discrepancies  of  opinion  among  men  of  ordinary  opportuni¬ 
ties  and  pursuits : — or,  at  least,  that  they  would  cordially 
harmonize  in  all  essential  points :  while  in  regard  to 
those  of  minor  moment,  the  mere  circumstantials  of 
religion,  they  would  charitably  agree  to  differ.  Why 
should  not  every  honest  Christian  divine  be  disposed  to 
address  his  brother  in  the  language  of  Wesley?  “Is  thy 
heart  right  with  God?  If  it  be,  give  me  thy  hand.  I  do 
not  mean,  ‘be  of  my  opinion.’  You  need  not.  Neither 
do  I  mean,  ‘I  will  be  of  your  opinion.’  I  cannot.  Let 
all  opinions  alone;  only  give  me  thine  hand.”  Why  not 
be  as  teachable  as  Locke?  “I  read  the  word  of  God 
without  prepossession  or  bias,  and  come  to  it  with  a  reso¬ 
lution  to  take  my  sense  from  it,  and  not  with  a  design  to 
bring  it  to  the  sense  of  my  sj^stem.”  Or  as  catholic  as 
Robert  Hall?  “No  man,  or  set  of  men,  are  entitled  to 
prescribe  as  an  indispensable  condition  of  communion, 
what  the  New  Testament  has  not  enjoined  as  a  condition 
of  salvation.” 

But  notwithstanding  the  reasonableness  of  this  expect¬ 
ation,  many  of  the  clergy,  even  Protestant  clergy,  have 
betrayed  more  illiberality  and  bitterness  in  their  conduct 
and  publications  than  almost  any  other  class  of  men  in 
society.  Their  odium  tJieologicum  has  become  a  prover- 


208 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


bial  and  standing  reproach.  Their  prejudices  seem  to  be 
invincible,  and  their  animosities  inveterate.*  And  yet , 

1.  In  the  first  place:  They  have  no  solid  reason  for 
differing  at  all;  as  must  appear  from  the  whole  tenor  of 
our  argument  and  illustrations. 

2.  In  the  second  place :  The  greater  part  of  them  do 
not  differ  in  matters  of  much  importance:  or  the  differ¬ 
ence  is  rather  verbal  than  real. 

3.  In  the  third  place:  Common  sense  ought  to  teach 
them  the  folly  of  contending  for  points  that  are  scarcely 
perceptible;  for  quibbles  in  language  which  a  grammarian 


*  Witness  the  melancholy  and  embittered  contests  between  Luther 
and  Calvin ;  which  kept  them  as  wide  asunder,  in  heart  or  affection 
at  least,  as  both  were  distant  from  their  common  adversary,  the  Pope. 
Witness  the  two  hundred  years’  war  between  the  Calvinists  and  Armi- 
nians  about  five  points, — which  some  shrewd  men  have  suspected,  no 
doubt  rashly  or  profanely,  to  be  after  all  incomprehensible  in  their 
very  nature,  and  therefore  inexplicable,  and  therefore  undebatable. 
Witness  the  fierce  gladiatorial  combats  of  Episcopacy  and  Presbytery 
— of  both  with  Independency  or  Congregationalism — of  High  Church 
and  Low  Church  in  all  sects — of  ultra  orthodox  and  all  sorts  of  self- 
styled  moderate  or  liberal  or  peace  men  in  every  denomination.  Wit¬ 
ness  the  uncompromising  and  endless  disputes  about  the  mode  and 
subjects  of  Baptism — about  the  particular  day  to  be  hallowed  as  the 
Christian  Sabbath — about  the  nature  and  extent  of  the  atonement — 
about  original  sin,  free  will,  Divine  agency,  the  proper  office  of  the 
Holy  Spirit  in  the  work  of  conversion,  etc.,  etc.  Witness  the  deplora¬ 
ble  divisions,  the  domestic  feuds  and  family  broils,  which  rend  and 
distract  the  American  churches  of  almost  every  name,  at  this  day, 
under  divers  forms  and  pretexts.  Indeed,  the  entire  history  of  Pro¬ 
testant  Christendom  is  replete  with  instances  which  corroborate  all 
our  positions,  and  amply  demonstrate  the  folly  and  danger  of  confiding 
in  human  wisdom  or  authority  to  the  neglect  of  the  heavenly  Teacher. 
Verily,  “it  is  easier  (as  a  profound  thinker  has  declared)  to  lead  a 
hundred  thousand  men  to  battle  than  to  vanquish  a  single  prejudice.” 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


209 


would  disdain  to  notice;  for  shades  of  distinction  which 
no  unjaundiced  eye  could  ever  trace;  for  punctilios  of 
ceremony  and  discipline  which  are  perfectly  discretion¬ 
ary,  which  may  be  managed  twenty  ways  equally  well, 
or  which  may  be  omitted  altogether;  for  modes  of  treat¬ 
ing  and  expounding  mysteries  which  are  infinitely  above 
our  reach,  and  with  which  the  Author  of  the  gospel  never 
intended  that  we  should  intermeddle  further  than  he  has 
revealed. 

4.  In  the  fourth  place:  Experience  proves  the  impolicy 
and  absurdity  of  conducting  any  controversies  in  that 
acrimonious  abusive  style  which  generally  predominates 
in  religious  warfare.  When  deep-rooted  prejudices  en¬ 
counter  each  other,  reason  invariably  retires  from  the 
field  of  battle.  And  the  rival  disputants  frequently  give 
full  license  to  all  their  powers  of  satire,  ridicule,  invec¬ 
tive  and  low  scurrility;  without  once  recollecting  that 
their  professed  object  was  only  to  convince  and  reclaim 
a  wandering  brother.  A  discourteous,  arrogant,  over¬ 
bearing  mode  of  dealing  with  adversaries  or  errorists 
never  did,  and  never  will  make  a  sincere  convert.  Its 
tendency  is  rather  to  confirm  men  in  prejudice  and 
error — to  harden  and  exasperate  and  embitter  the  heart. 
More  injury  has  probably  been  done  to  the  cause  of 
Christ  by  such  narrow-minded  impracticable  bigots,  than 
by  the  whole  tribe  of  infidels  and  avowed  opposers  of  the 
gospel  since  its  first  introduction  into  the  world. 

5.  In  the  fifth  place:  The  Scriptures  of  eternal  truth 
condemn,  in  most  decisive  terms,  this  whole  system  or 
method  of  “  contending  earnestly  for  the  faith  once  de- 


210 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


livered  to  the  saints/’  by  the  dexterous  einploj'ment  of 
mere  carnal  weapons,  furnished  by  an  ambitious  church 
or  school  or  party  champion.  Charity  is  inscribed,  as 
with  a  sunbeam,  upon  every  page  of  this  blessed  volume. 
We  are  directed  to  bear  with  each  other’s  infirmities;  to 
“avoid  foolish  questions,  and  genealogies,  and  conten¬ 
tions,  and  strivings  about  the  law,  for  they  are  unprofit¬ 
able  and  vain.”  “If  any  man  teach  otherwise,  and  con¬ 
sent  not  to  wholesome  words,  even  the  words  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  and  to  the  doctrine  which  is  according  to 
godliness,  he  is  proud,  knowing  nothing,  but  doting  about 
questions  and  strifes  of  words,  whereof  cometh  envy, 
strife,  railings,  evil  surmisings,  perverse  disputings  of 
men  of  corrupt  minds,  and  destitute  of  the  truth,  suppos¬ 
ing  that  gain  is  godliness :  from  such  withdraw  thyself.” 
“0  Timothy,  keep  that  which  is  committed  to  thy  trust, 
avoiding  profane  and  vain  babblings,  and  oppositions  of 
science  falsely  so  called ;  which  some  professing,  have 
erred  concerning  the  faith.”  “Flee  also  youthful  lusts: 
but  follow  righteousness,  faith,  charity,  peace,  with  them 
that  call  on  the  Lord  out  of  a  pure  heart.  But  foolish 
and  unlearned  questions  avoid,  knowing  that  they  do 
gender  strifes.  And  the  servant  of  the  Lord  must  not 
strive;  but  be  gentle  unto  all  men,  apt  to  teach,  patient; 
in  meekness  instructing  those  that  oppose  themselves; 
if  God  peradventure  will  give  them  repentance  to  the 
acknowledging  of  the  truth.”  “It  is  (remarks  Dr.  Camp¬ 
bell)  the  liberal  advice  of  an  apostle:  ‘ Prove  all  things, 
hold  fast  that  which  is  good;’ — an  advice  which  breathes 
nothing  of  that  narrow,  sectarian  spirit,  which  has  sc 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


211 


long  and  so  generally  prevailed  among  Christians  of  all 
denominations,  and  hath  proved  the  greatest  pest  of  the 
cause.”  “It  is  indeed  shocking  (says  Toplady,  whose 
own  practice,  by-the-way,  did  not  always  accord  with 
his  precept,)  that  those  who  profess  to  experience  and 
to  preach  the  love  of  Christ,  can  so  far  prostitute  the 
dignity  and  the  design  of  their  sacred  calling,  as  to 
seek  to  exasperate  differing  parties  against  each  other, 
instead  of  labouring  to  preserve  unity  of  spirit,  to 
strengthen  the  bond  of  peace,  and  to  promote  right¬ 
eousness  of  life.” 

Many  persons,  no  doubt,  reject  and  denounce  the  gos¬ 
pel  without  examination,  because  its  rash,  obstinate, 
official  advocates  betray  the  cause  by  their  mutual  per¬ 
secutions  and  recriminations.  They  will  judge  of  its 
excellence  by  [what  they  mistake  for]  its  effects  upon 
the  lives  of  its  teachers.  They  despise,  and  with  reason, 
the  contentious,  intolerant,  uncompromising  spirit  which 
reigns  among  them.  They  perceive  also  the  utter  want 
of  worldly  prudence  and  judicious  tact  in  all  such  con¬ 
duct.  “The  true  secret  (says  Hume)  for  the  discreet 
management  of  sectarists,  is  to  tolerate  them.”  When 
unopposed,  their  strength  is  spent  in  the  air,  and  they 
die  of  themselves.  In  this  sentiment,  the  shrewd  philo¬ 
sophical  skeptic  is  supported  by  the  learned  commentator 
on  the  Laws  of  England.  “Undoubtedly  (observes  Judge 
Blackstone)  all  persecution  and  oppression  of  weak  con¬ 
sciences,  on  the  score  of  religious  persuasion,  are  highly 
unjustifiable  upon  every  principle  of  natural  reason,  civil 
liberty  or  sound  religion.”  Man  is  naturally  accountable 


212 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


to  no  tribunal  for  the  soundness  of  liis  faith  and  the 
purity  of  his  worship,  but  to  that  only  which  can  search 
the  heart.  “To  banish,  imprison,  plunder,  starve,  hang 
and  burn  men  for  religion,  (says  Jortin,)  is  not  the  gospel 
of  Christ;  it  is  the  gospel  of  the  devil.  Where  persecu¬ 
tion  begins,  Christianity  ends.  Christ  never  used  any¬ 
thing  that  looked  like  force  or  violence  except  once :  and 
that  was  to  drive  bad  men  out  of  the  temple,  and  not  to 
drive  them  in.” 

Nowr  we  fain  would  know  in  what  persecution  essen¬ 
tially  consists.  In  this  enlightened  age,  it  is  generally 
conceded  that  men  ought  to  be  allowed  to  worship  God 
according  to  the  dictates  of  their  own  consciences;  that 
no  lawTs  ought  to  be  enacted,  tending  in  the  least  to  en¬ 
danger  liberty,  life  or  property,  on  the  ground  of  religious 
belief  or  profession.  But  can  men  be  injured,  persecuted 
and  oppressed  only  in  personal  liberty,  life  or  property? 
Is  it  no  persecution  to  sport  with  the  feelings  of  men? — 
to  cavil  against,  condemn  and  ridicule  principles  and 
ceremonies  which  they  regard  most  sacred?  Is  it  no 
persecution  to  denounce  the  members  of  a  dissenting  sect 
or  individuals  of  our  own  sect  whose  shibboleth  we  cannot 
or  will  not  enunciate,  as  deluded  fanatics  or  obdurate 
heretics — as  crafty  designing  hypocrites — as  wilful  and 
impudent  perverters  of  gospel  language  and  doctrines — 
as  ambitious  conformists  to  the  corrupt  maxims  of  the 
world — as  morose  churlish  devotees,  who  would  deprive 
us  of  every  rational  enjoyment — or  as  ravenous  wolves 
in  sheep’s  clothing?  Is  it  no  persecution  to  hold  men 
up  before  the  public  as  objects  of  scorn  and  derision— as 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


213 


insidious  corrupters  of  the  popular  morals,  whose  society 
ought,  above  all  things,  to  be  avoided? — to  set  a  mark 
of  disgrace  upon  them,  which  must  render  their  name 
odious  to  all  but  their  own  particular  communion  or 
party?  In  a  word,  to  wound  their  character  in  the  ten- 
derest  points;  to  destroy  their  comfort,  as  far  as  possible, 
in  this  world,  and  to  consign  them  to  perdition  in  the 
next?  If  this  be  not  persecution,  and  of  no  very  gentle 
character  too,  then  the  term  to  us  has  no  meaning  and 
no  application.  “The  apostle  indeed  forewarned  the 
early  converts  that  there  must  be  heresies  in  the  church, 
that  they  who  are  approved  may  be  made  manifest:  but 
it  does  not  occur  to  these  fiery  zealots,  that  a  system  of 
persecution  for  opinion  is  the  worst  of  all  heresies,  as  it 
violates  at  once  truth  and  charity.” 

But  while  we  thus  appear  the  advocate  of  charity  in 
opposition  to  sectarian  bigotry,  which  always  results  from 
prejudice  of  some  kind,  we  wmuld  not  forget  that  even 
bigots  and  persecutors  have  a  claim  upon  our  charity. 
They,  too,  are  not  unfrequently  rather  to  be  commiser¬ 
ated  than  harshly  condemned.  St.  Paul,  when  hurried 
onward  by  his  prejudices- — by  zeal  without  knowledge — 
to  the  most  revolting  acts  of  cruelty  and  violence  upon 
the  harmless  unresisting  followers  of  Christ,  was  an  ob¬ 
ject  of  pity  rather  than  of  hatred.  He  was  honest, 
though  misguided.  His  ignorance  however  could  not 
excuse  him,  because  it  was  voluntary.  He  had  the 
means  of  being  better  informed.  But  his  bigoted  at¬ 
tachment  to  the  system  in  which  he  had  been  edu¬ 
cated,  shut  the  door  to  inquiry  and  to  light.  And, 


214 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


without  a  miracle,  lie  probably  would  never  have  seen 
his  errors. 

Many  examples  might  be  cited  to  illustrate  the  diffi¬ 
culty  with  which  men  are  emancipated  from  the  tram¬ 
mels  of  prejudice;  and  our  obligations  to  exercise  much 
tenderness  and  forbearance  towards  them.  “  My  own 
case  (says  Luther,  in  a  description  of  his  feelings  respect¬ 
ing  the  matters  in  dispute  between  Eckius  and  himself,) 
is  a  notable  example  of  the  difficulty  with  which  a  man 
emerges  from  erroneous  notions  of  long  standing.  How 
true  is  the  proverb:  ‘ custom  is  a  second  nature/  How 
true  is  that  saying  of  Augustin:  ‘habit,  if  not  resisted, 
becomes  necessity/  I  who,  both  publicly  and  privately, 
had  taught  divinity  with  the  greatest  diligence  for  seven 
years,  insomuch  that  I  retained  in  my  memory  almost 
every  word  of  my  lectures,  was,  in  fact,  at  that  time  only 
just  initiated  into  the  knowledge  and  faith  of  Christ:  1 
had  only  just  learned  that  a  man  must  be  justified  and 
saved,  not  by  works,  but  by  the  faith  of  Christ:  and 
lastly,  in  regard  to  pontifical  authority,  though  I  pub¬ 
licly  maintained  that  the  Pope  was  not  the  head  of  the 
church  by  a  Divine  right ,  yet  I  stumbled  at  the  very  next 
step,  namely,  that  the  whole  Papal  system  was  a  satanic 
invention.  This  I  did  not  see,  but  contended  obstinately 
for  the  Pope’s  right ,  founded  on  human  reasons :  so  thor¬ 
oughly  deluded  was  I,  by  the  example  of  others,  by  the 
title  of  Holy  Church ,  and  by  my  own  habits.  Hence  I 
have  learned  to  have  more  candour  for  bigoted  Papists, 
especially  if  they  are  not  much  acquainted  with  sacred, 
or  perhaps  even  with  profane  history.”  “In  the  schools 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


215 


(he  observes  again)  I  lost  Jesus  Christ:  I  have  now  found 
him  in  St.  Paul.” 

But  even  this  enlightened  reformer  and  indefatigable 
inquirer  after  truth,  fell  at  last  far  short  of  a  complete 
victory  over  the  prejudices  of  the  age  in  which  he  lived, 
and  in  which  he  had  been  nurtured.  His  doctrine  of 
consubstantiation,  for  instance,  is  regarded  by  a  large 
majority  of  Protestant  Christians  as  not  a  whit  less  un- 
scriptural  and  contradictory  than  that  of  transubstantia- 
tion  which  he  reprobated.  “  Truth  is  seldom  seen  at  once 
in  its  full  order  and  proportion  of  parts.”  And  “  strong 
conviction  is  much  more  apt  to  breed  strife  in  matters  of 
little  moment  than  in  subjects  of  high  importance.” 

Scott,  in  his  Force  of  Truth,  has  exhibited  his  own 
experience  on  this  subject.  His  case  was  somewhat 
peculiar,  and  certainly  very  unpromising.  He  seemed 
Host  in  errors  endless  maze.”  His  slow  progress,  step 
by  step,  with  much  study  and  research ;  reluctantly 
yielding  up,  inch  after  inch,  the  ground  which  he  had 
already  assumed,  and  which  he  seemed  resolved,  at  all 
hazards,  to  maintain ;  and  his  final  surrender  of  the 
whole  before  the  broad  daylight  and  omnipotence  of 
truth;  may  serve  to  expose  the  despotic  power  of  pre¬ 
judice,  and  to  point  out  the  proper  way  to  overcome 
and  subdue  it  A 

*  Widely  different  was  the  procedure  of  Dr.  Priestley,  and  widely 
different  also  was  the  result :  as  the  following  paragraph  from  a  Quar¬ 
terly  Reviewer  of  1812,  may  show.  The  rationale  here  given  is  char¬ 
acteristic  and  illustrative  of  the  course  pursued  bymany  a  superior 
mind  in  similar  circumstances.  It  is  not  uncommon  for  a  man  to  be 
great  and  liberal  and  just  in  one  department  of  scientific  investigation, 


216 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


“  The  authors  of  all  systems  (says  a  judicious  divine) 
are  more  or  less  prejudiced  in  behalf  of  some  particular 
and  artificial  mode  of  faith.  He,  therefore,  who  begins 
with  the  study  of  them,  and  afterwards  proceeds  to  the 
sacred  volume,  sees  with  a  jaundiced  eye  every  text  sup¬ 
porting  the  peculiar  tenets  of  his  first  master,  and  acts 
as  absurd  a  part  as  he  who  tries  not  the  gold  by  the 
copal,  but  the  copal  by  the  gold.  The  principles  of  real 


while  lie  is  quite  the  reverse  in  another.  There  have  been  but  few 
Ciceros  and  Bacons  and  Lockes  and  Newtons  even  among  the  nominci 
clara  of  philosophy. 

"  In  his  theological  and  philosophical  pursuits,  he  (Priestley)  seemed 
to  be  compounded  of  two  different  men.  It  was  not  to  his  penetrating 
genius  only  that  mankind  are  indebted  for  his  vast  discoveries  in  chem¬ 
istry,  but  to  a  spirit  of  investigation  exact  and  persevering  in  this 
department — proceeding  by  cautious  induction  which  allowed  much 
slower  understandings  to  keep  pace  with  his  own,  and  guarding  against 
error  in  his  conclusions  by  frequent  repetition  of  his  experiments.  It 
is  not  a  little  remarkable,  however,  that  in  his  theological  pursuits, 
and  more  especially  in  those  of  ecclesiastical  history,  in  which  he  most 
disgracefully  failed,  the  conduct  of  his  understanding  was  precisely 
reversed.  He  began  with  conclusions,  and  then  sought  for  premises 
to  justify  them.  Having  previously  made  up  his  mind  that  certain 
doctrines  could  not  have  come  from  God,  he  proceeded  by  a  species 
of  analysis  peculiar  to  himself,  to  demonstrate  that  they  were  not  con¬ 
tained  in  Scripture.  To  this  end  the  analogies  of  language  were  set 
aside,  grammar  tortured,  and  rules  of  lax  interpretation  applied  to  the 
most  decisive  and  convincing  texts,  by  which  anything  might  be  de¬ 
duced  from  anything.  Above  all,  mystery  was  to  be  discarded,  and 
the  philosopher,  who  knew  and  acknowledged  that  the  most  common 
operations  of  nature  quickly  ran  up  into  causes  and  principles,  which 
eluded  even  his  own  penetrating  research ;  when  he  assumed  the  char¬ 
acter  of  the  theologian,  and  undertook  to  investigate  subjects  which 
are  in  no  degree  the  objects  of  sense,  would  not  endure  that  the 
Almighty  should  'veil  himself  in  clouds,’  and  that  'darkness  should  be 
the  habitation  of  his  seat.’” 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


217 


theology  are  to  be  found  only  in  the  word  and  works  of 
God:  and  he  who  would  extract  them  pure  and  unso¬ 
phisticated,  must  dig  for  them  himself  in  that  exhaust¬ 
less  mine.” 

But  should  it  be  objected,  that  if  we  were  to  discard 
all  human  auxiliaries  and  authorities,  and  to  search  the 
Scriptures  alone  with  attention  and  candour,  still  there 
would  be  no  unity  in  doctrine;  we  answer  in  the  words 
of  Chillingworth :  “1.  It  is  impossible  you  should  know 
this,  considering  that  there  are  many  places  in  Scripture 
which  do  more  than  probably  import,  that  the  want  of 
piety  in  living  is  the  cause  of  want  of  unity  in  believing. 
2.  That  there  would  be  unity  of  opinion  in  all  things 
necessary,  and  that  in  things  not  necessary,  unity  of 
opinion  is  not  necessary.  3.  But  lastly,  that  notwith¬ 
standing  differences  in  these  things  of  lesser  importance, 
there  might  and  would  be  unity  of  communion,  unity  of 
charity  and  affection,  which  is  one  of  the  greatest  bless¬ 
ings  which  the  world  is  capable  of;  absolute  unity  of 
opinion  being  a  matter  rather  to  be  desired  than  hoped 
for.”  Such  catholic  sentiments  in  the  reign  of  the  first 
Charles  are  worthy  of  all  praise.* 

*  We  do  not  recollect  ever  to  have  conversed  with  an  individual, 
whether  of  the  clergy  or  laity,  who  did  not  claim  to  be  exempt  from 
all  prejudice  and  uncharitableness.  The  truth  is,  most  men  deceive 
themselves  in  this  matter.  They  are  charitable  on  a  grand  scale — 
towards  the  heathen,  it  may  be — and  all  the  world,  afar  off.  But  at 
home  —  towards  their  nearest  brethren  of  another  party  name  —  they 
indulge  the  temper  and  feelings  of  a  Dominic  or  a  Bonner.  Thus, 
a  loyal  churchman,  contemporary  with  Chillingworth,  in  a  letter  to  a 
friend,  the  chief  scope  of  which  would  seem  to  be  the  exhibition  of 


218 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


We  are  aware  that  the  tenor  of  this  whole  discussion 
is  directly  opposed  to  the  popular  voice  on  the  subject. 
It  is  generally  esteemed  an  evidence  of  a  strong,  original, 
independent  mind  to  have  settled  or  firmly  established 
opinions  at  an  early  period : — a  mark  of  intellectual  supe¬ 
riority  and  moral  courage  never  to  doubt,  or  waver,  or 
change,  when  once  we  have  adopted  our  opinions; — a 
point  of  honour  to  sustain  and  defend  them  on  all  occa¬ 
sions  and  at  all  hazards.  And  this,  too,  notwithstanding 
they  may  oftentimes  have  been  embraced  upon  the  most 
flimsy  grounds,  or  without  any  reason  whatever.  Such 
a  person  has  effectually  closed  every  door  and  avenue  to 
the  acquisition  of  knowledge.  He  has  eyes,  but  he  sees 
not;  ears,  but  he  hears  not;  understanding,  but  he  per¬ 
ceives  not.  He  moves  in  a  charmed  circle.  He  cannot 
get  out  of  it,  or  look  beyond  it.  He  is  a  one-sided, 
wrong-headed,  self-sufficient  politician  or  religionist  as 
long  as  he  lives.  Now,  an  opinionated  man — especially 
a  young  man  who  is  just  entering  upon  the  threshold  of 
liberal  inquiry — and,  above  all,  one  who  is  commencing 
a  course  of  theological  study  with  a  view  to  the  sacred 
ministry — is,  at  best,  but  a  sorry  specimen  of  adventurous 


himself  as  a  paragon  of  Christian  charity,  after  sundry  honeyed  phrases, 
adds,  with  infinite  naivete,  the  following  precious  proof:  “Difference 
in  opinion  may  work  a  disaffection  in  me,  but  not  a  detestation ;  I 
rather  pity  than  hate  Turk  or  Infidel,  for  they  are  of  the  same  metal, 
and  bear  the  same  stamp  as  I  do,  though  the  inscriptions  differ.  If  I 
hate  any,  it  is  those  schismatics  that  puzzle  the  sweet  peace  of  our 
church ;  so  that  I  could  be  content  to  see  an  Anabaptist  go  to  hell 
on  a  Brownist’s  back.”  ( Lettei '  of  James  Howell,  Esq.,  to  Sir  Ed.  B. 
Knight .) 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


219 


blindfold  humanity.  We  cannot  but  regard  him  as  a 
vain  deluded  creature,  who  is  about  to  impose  on  himself 
a  tedious  painful  drudgery,  through  which  we  foresee  he 
will  doggedly  worry,  without  the  slightest  prospect  of 
ever  becoming  one  jot  the  wiser.  He  has  prejudged  the 
cause,  and  is  fully  resolved  never  to  alter  one  article  or 
clause  of  his  creed.  Nay,  this  creed  may  have  been  pre¬ 
scribed  to  him  by  authority  at  the  outset  :  and  he  may 
have  been  required  to  bind  himself  by  promise  or  oath 
never  to  believe,  think,  act  or  teach,  except  in  conformity 
with  its  arbitrary  instructions.  Yet,  however  much  we 
may  commiserate  the  weakness  or  folly  or  rashness  or 
hardihood  of  such  an  individual,  or  however  much  we 
may  dread  and  deplore  the  consequences  likely  to  result 
from  his  future  influence  as  a  spiritual  guide  or  ecclesi¬ 
astical  dignitary,  he  will  be  lauded  and  honoured  by  his 
party  as  a  bold,  consistent,  high-minded,  unflinching  ad¬ 
vocate  of  orthodoxy.  But  is  there  honesty — is  there 
independence — is  there  magnanimity  in  such  a  course, 
or  in  the  mind  that  can  be  constrained  to  pursue  it? 
“The  dogmatist  (says  Campbell)  knows  nothing  of  de¬ 
grees,  either  in  evidence  or  in  faith.  He  has  properly 
no  opinions  or  doubts.  Everything  with  him  is  either 
certainly  true  or  certainly  false.  Of  this  turn  of  mind 
I  shall  only  say,  that  far  from  being  an  indication  of 
vigour,  it  is  a  sure  indication  of  debility  in  the  intel¬ 
lectual  powers.”  “In  all  cases  (remarks  Beattie)  where 
dogmatical  belief  tends  to  harden  the  heart,  or  to  breed 
prejudices  incompatible  with  candour,  humanity  and  the 


220 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


love  of  truth,  all  good  men  will  be  careful  to  cultivate 
moderation  and  diffidence.”* 

How  often  do  we  see  men  who  have  heard  or  perused 
only  one  side  of  a  furious  controversy,  declare  themselves 

*  We  h  ave  not  designed,  in  this  rambling  essay,  to  approach  the 
question  about  the  necessity  or  the  expediency  of  creeds,  confessions 
and  articles  of  religion.  It  will  be  time  enough  to  reject  them,  when 
experience  shall  have  proved  it  practicable  for  any  church  to  exist 
without  them.  We  merely  hold,  that  the  public  teacher  of  Chris¬ 
tianity  ought  to  be  thoroughly  conversant  with  Scripture  in  order  to 
be  qualified  to  subscribe  honestly  to  any  creed  or  formulary.  When 
he  has  thus  voluntarily  and  conscientiously  subscribed,  he  is  of  course 
bound  to  preach  accordingly.  He  cannot,  in  good  faith,  adhere  osten¬ 
sibly  to  any  church  or  ecclesiastical  connexion,  while  opposed  to  its 
doctrines  or  government.  It  is  his  duty  to  leave  such  connexion 
whenever  he  finds  it  irksome,  oppressive  or  criminal  to  comply  with 
its  known  and  acknowledged  requisitions,  or  to  fulfil  his  own  promises 
and  engagements. 

As  to  children,  and  the  mass  of  the  people,  they  must  ever  be,  in  a 
large  measure,  dependent  on  parental  and  ministerial  instructions.  So 
much  the  greater  is  the  urgency  for  a  well  educated,  faithful,  devoted 
ministry,  to  give  the  proper  tone  and  character  to  every  gradation  of 
inferior  and  subordinate  teachers.  Nor  do  we  object  to  the  use  of 
theological  systems,  commentaries,  etc.,  provided  they  be  rigidly  tried 
and  judged  by  the  “law  and  the  testimony,”  and  not  implicitly  followed 
as  paramount  and  infallible  guides.  But,  the  Bible  first,  above  all, 
without  rival  or  peer,  always  open  and  in  hand,  constantly  studied 
“without  note  or  comment,”  and  with  the  single  purpose  of  arriving 
at  the  “mind  of  the  Spirit”  in  the  language  of  the  Spirit. 

The  answer  of  Luther  to  his  friend  George  Spalatinus,  on  being 
requested  to  give  him  his  advice  concerning  the  best  method  of  acquir¬ 
ing  sacred  knowledge,  deserves  to  be  remembered  and  practised  by 
every  student  in  divinity.  After  recommending  to  his  notice  certain 
parts  of  the  writings  of  Jerome,  Ambrose  and  Augustin,  he  exhorts 
him  always  to  begin  his  studies  with  serious  prayer:  for,  says  he, 
“there  is  really  no  interpreter  of  the  Divine  word,  but  its  own  Au¬ 
thor.”  He  adds:  “Bead  the  Bible  in  order  from  the  beginning  to 
the  end.” 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


221 


perfectly  convinced,  and  unalterably  fixed  in  their  opin¬ 
ions  ?  They  act  like  an  ignorant  jury,  whose  passions 
are  excited  and  whose  judgments  are  thereby  swayed  or 
bribed  to  assent  to  any  measure  or  award  which  a  skil¬ 
ful  advocate  may  urge  in  behalf  of  his  client :  and  who 
would,  if  then  called  upon  for  a  decision,  undoubtedly 
find  an  unrighteous  verdict.  They  would  decide  under 
the  influence  of  passion,  prejudice  and  partial  informa¬ 
tion.  Such  injustice  or  iniquity,  however,  is  generally 
prevented  by  their  being  compelled  to  hear  counsel  for 
the  defendant  also.  They  therefore  gradually  become 
cool  and  self-possessed  while  listening,  it  may  be,  to  a 
clear,  simple,  judicious,  matter-of-fact  argument  or  state¬ 
ment  from  the  opposite  party:  or,  if  their  passions  shall 
be  again  appealed  to,  the  two  directly  contrary  fires  will 
destroy  or  neutralize  each  other’s  effects,  and  leave  them 
once  more  in  the  exercise  of  reason  and  common  sense. 
We  ought,  then,  in  ail  our  pursuits  after  truth,  particu¬ 
larly  when  sought  amidst  the  flames  of  controversy,  to 
be  “ persuaded  that  moments  of  passion  are  always  mo¬ 
ments  of  delusion ;  that  nothing  truly  is  what  it  then 
seems  to  be;  that  all  the  opinions  which  we  then  form, 
are  erroneous;  and  ail  the  judgments  which  we  pass,  are 
extravagant.”  (Blair.) 

A  single  notorious  fact  might  lead  us,  without  further 
inquiry,  to  suspect  the  dangerous  tendency  of  theological 
systems,  devised  to  regulate  and  control  human  reason. 
It  is  this:  We  universally  find  that,  at  least,  ninety-nine 
hundredths  of  mankind,  learned  and  unlearned,  live  and 


99,9 

4mJ  mmi  m*A 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


die  fully  persuaded  of  the  truth  and  excellence  of  the 
doctrines  and  ceremonies  of  that  particular  sect  to  which 
they  happen  to  belong  by  birth.  The  evil  of  instilling 
party  prejudices  and  opinions  into  the  youthful  mind 
must  therefore  be  conceded :  or  we  must  allow  that  the 
creeds  of  Papist  and  Protestant,  of  Socinian  and  Athana- 
sian,  are  equally  good  and  true.  Nay,  by  the  same  rule, 
we  ought  to  apologize  for  the  Jew,  the  Mohammedan 
and  the  Pagan.  For  these,  too,  believe  as  they  have 
been  taught.  Such  is  human  nature :  whatever  men 
may  have  imbibed  from  early  childhood  with  implicit 
confidence,  they  inflexibly  retain  and  cherish — especially 
everything  of  a  sacred  nature.  A  kind  of  superstitious 
veneration,  a  solemn  dread  of  indulging  what  might  be 
accounted  an  impious  curiosity,  ordinarily  prevents  all 
future  investigation,  and  confirms  them  in  the  faith  of 
their  fathers.  Now,  what  argument  can  be  plausibly 
advanced  a  priori  for  preferring  the  system  of  one  sect 
to  that  of  another?  How  ought  an  unbiased  individual, 
(if  one  there  be,)  still  ignorant  of  Christianity  but  desir¬ 
ous  to  become  acquainted  with  its  principles,  to  choose 
among  them?  How  would  you  advise  him  to  proceed? 
Would  you  direct  him  to  this  or  that  sectarian  system 
or  confession,  and  assure  him  of  its  entire  agreement 
with  the  Scriptures?  But,  suppose  he  should  ask,  Does 
not  every  sect  possess  a  system  or  profess  a  creed  founded, 
in  like  manner,  exclusively  upon  the  same  Scriptures? 
Do  they  not  all  affirm  that  the  wTord  of  God — the  Bible 
— is  the  only  authentic  and  unerring  criterion  by  which 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


to  distinguish  truth  from  falsehood?  And  do  they  not 
all  loudly  proclaim  their  ability  to  establish  by  it  every 
tittle  of  their  doctrine  and  church  polity?  He  would 
be  exceedingly  perplexed,  and  utterly  at  a  loss  to  know 
where  to  begin  or  what  course  to  pursue,  unless  his  own 
good  sense  would  suggest  to  him  the  obvious  propriety 
of  neglecting  them  all  for  the  present,  and  of  recurring 
at  once  to  the  sacred  paramount  standard  which  all 
receive  as  infallible  and  reverence  as  divine. 

Finally:  What  is  there  so  captivating  or  magical  or 
potent  in  a  mere  name,  that  we  should  suffer  ourselves 
to  be  duped  or  dazzled  by  it  or  subjected  to  its  domin¬ 
ion?  It  can  neither  protect  us  from  error  and  mischief, 
nor  guide  us  in  the  sure  road  to  heavenly  peace  and  hap¬ 
piness.  Why  do  we  not  then  study  the  gospel  of  Jesus 
Christ,  rather  than  the  gospel  of  Luther,  or  Calvin,  or 
Hopkins,  or  Wesley?  Why  do  we  not,  in  this  respect, 
heed  the  injunction  of  the  Apostle  to  the  primitive  con¬ 
verts,  not  to  account  themselves  the  disciples  of  Paul  or 
Apollos  or  Cephas  or  of  any  other  human  teacher  or 
master,  however  eminent  or  gifted?  And  why,  when 
we  pretend  to  take  the  Scriptures  as  our  only  authority, 
do  we  dread  a  sentiment  or  doctrine  or  truth  evidently 
set  forth  therein  merely  because  it  may  he  in  favour  with 
an  unpopular  or  dissenting  party?  Why  do  we  hesitate 
to  welcome  truth,  even  though  a  heretic  or  infidel  may 
have  stumbled  upon  it?  If,  indeed,  we  ever  become 
earnest,  dispassionate,  persevering  seekers  after  truth, 
we  shall  inevitably  subscribe  to  many  things  which  have 


224 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


been  admitted  by  all  the  belligerent  Christian  sects — not 
because  they  admit  them,  but  because  the  Bible  clearly 
reveals  them.  We  shall  retain  much  that  is  common 
to  all.  We  shall  not  be  Calvinists  perhaps,  nor  Armin- 
ians.  We  shall  have  become  the  honest  followers  of 
Jesus  Christ  and  of  him  only.  If  so,  we  shall  be  ready 
to  extend  our  charity  to  all  his  sincere  disciples,  by 
whatever  appellation  they  may  be  known  among  men. 
We  shall  estimate  Christian  sincerity  by  the  life  and 
practice,  rather  than  by  the  profession.  We  shall  learn 
to  judge  by  the  fruits,  and  not  by  the  peculiarities  of  a 
creed.  Let  us  then  dare  to  make  the  gospel  the  only 
basis  of  our  faith,  and  the  only  rule  of  our  conduct. 
And  we  may  calmly  bid  defiance  to  the  slanders  and 
reproaches  of  an  illiberal,  bigoted,  misjudging,  captious 
world. 

If  we  know  our  own  hearts,  (the  faithful  pastors 
should  be  able  to  say,)  we  fain  would  be  divested  of 
all  sectarian  and  of  all  secular  pride  and  prejudice.  We 
would  preach  to  guilty  perishing  sinners  neither  this 
nor  that  distinguished  divine  or  reformer.  We  would 
preach  Jesus  Christ  and  him  crucified.  We  would  ac¬ 
knowledge  ourselves  his  servants  and  his  only.  We 
would  glory  in  his  cross,  and  in  being  esteemed  his 
ambassadors  and  ministers;  and  as  such,  we  should  feel 
ourselves  invested  with  an  official  character  and  author¬ 
ity  infinitely  above  what  any  man  or  ecclesiastical  body 
can  impart. 

Should  we  then  ascend  to  the  fountain  head,  and  no 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


225 


longer  be  contented  with  the  shallow  and  turbid  streams, 
which  are  flowing  in  every  direction  from  spurious  or 
poisoned  sources,  wonderful  and  glorious  would  be  the 
effects.  How  soon  would  petty  distinctions  vanish  away 
— party  animosities  cease — and  Christians  everywhere 
be  disposed  to  banish  envy,  malice,  pride  and  bigotry: 
“  Universal  charity  would  throw  wide  her  arms,  and 
humility  stoop  to  the  tenderest  offices  of  beneficence. 
Dove-like  meekness  would  smile  with  benignity  in  her 
heart  and  candour  upon  her  lips.”  “  Blessed  are  the 
peace -makers :  for  they  shall  be  called  the  children 
of  God.” 

VOL.  III.— 15 


« 

* 

V 

* 

AN  ADDRESS  ON  THE  OCCASION  Of  THE  CENTENNIAL 
BIRTHDAY  OF  GEORGE  WASHINGTON. 

[NASHVILLE,  TENNESSEE,  FEBRUARY  22,  1832.] 


I 


/ 


AN  ADDRESS  ON  THE  OCCASION  OF  THE  CENTENNIAL 
BIRTHDAY  OF  GEORGE  WASHINGTON.* 


A  century  has  now  elapsed  since  the  birth  of  our 
immortal  Washington,  and  ten  millions  of  freemen  can 
this  day  testify  that  a  republic  is  not  always  ungrateful 
to  her  noblest  benefactor.  With  what  thrilling  emotions 
have  we  not  listened  again  to  his  last  paternal  counsels, 
and  yielded  the  conviction  of  honest  hearts  to  the  truth 
and  wisdom  of  all  his  sagacious  and  ever  seasonable  in¬ 
structions!  Such  a  farewell  address  was  worthv  of  the 

*/ 


*  Delivered  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  February  22d,  1832,  imme¬ 
diately  after  the  reading  of  the  Farewell  Address.  On  the  sixth 
instant,  the  author  was  requested  by  a  Committee  of  Arrangements, 
in  behalf  of  the  citizens  of  Nashville  and  its  vicinity,  to  prepare  an 
address  for  the  approaching  celebration  of  the  Centennial  Birthday 
of  George  Washington.  He  at  first  declined,  on  account  of  his  numer¬ 
ous  official  engagements,  and  because  he  wished  the  duty  to  be  assigned 
to  a  more  suitable  and  competent  individual.  When  assured,  however, 
that  no  other  person  could  be  prevailed  on  to  officiate,  he  reluctantly 
consented  (viz.  on  the  eighth)  to  make  the  attempt — without  the  least 
hope  of  fulfilling  even  the  most  moderate  expectations  which  such  an 
occasion  was  calculated  to  excite.  He  was,  moreover,  afflicted  with 
severe  and  painful  indisposition,  which  rendered  it  impossible  for  him 
to  study  or  write,  during  a  greater  part  of  the  interval.  On  the  even¬ 
ing  of  the  twenty-second  he  was  earnestly  solicited  by  the  Committee 
to  furnish  a  copy  of  his  Address  for  immediate  publication.  The 
rough  notes,  therefore,  without  alteration  or  addition,  were  sent  to 
the  printer;  and  on  the  twenty-fourth  the  Address  appeared  in  the 
Nashville  newspapers. 


f229) 


230 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


father  of  his  country.  It  is  itself  an  invaluable  legacy 
to  the  latest  generations — where  liberty,  integrity,  the 
rights  of  man,  the  principles  of  universal  equity,  the 
calm  pursuits  of  unambitious  peaceful  tranquillity,  the 
steady  progressive  advancement  of  the  human  species  in 
virtue,  intelligence  and  happiness,  shall  be  duly  appreci¬ 
ated  and  honoured.  Nor  can  a  more  appropriate  tribute 
of  respect  be  offered  to  his  memory,  than  the  solemn 
recital,  in  the  ears  of  the  people,  on  each  returning  anni¬ 
versary  of  his  birthday,  of  this  precious  valedictory.  It 
is  a  text-book  for  our  statesmen  to  study — and  it  may 
serve  as  an  infallible  test  in  the  hands  of  the  people,  by 
which  to  try  the  spirit  and  character  of  their  rulers  and 
of  all  political  aspirants.  Let  every  youth  commit  it  to 
memory.  Let  its  maxims  be  engraven  upon  every  Amer¬ 
ican  heart.  It  will  enlighten  his  judgment,  enlarge  his 
conceptions,  elevate  and  chasten  his  patriotism,  subdue 
his  sectional  and  selfish  prejudices,  expand  his  bosom 
with  a  generous  philanthropy,  and  lead  him  to  esteem 
all  the  citizens  of  every  State  as  his  brethren,  and  as 
equally  entitled  to  all  the  franchises,  privileges  and  bless¬ 
ings  which  our  common  constitution  and  representative 
government  were  designed  to  secure  and  to  perpetuate. 

Until  the  declaration  of  our  national  independence,  on 
the  Fourth  of  July,  1776,  the  history  of  England  consti¬ 
tuted  part  and  parcel  of  our  own  history.  And  if  Eng¬ 
lishmen  had  anything  to  boast  of  in  literature,  in  science, 
in  arts,  in  arms,  in  religion,  in  government,  prior  to  that 
period,  the  Anglo-Americans  are  fairly  entitled  to  a  par¬ 
ticipation  in  all  her  glory.  Shakspeare  and  Milton, 


231 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 

Hampden  and  Sidney,  Bacon  and  Boyle,  Locke  and 
Newton,  Pope  and  Addison,  Marlborough  and  Chatham, 
grace  the  pages  of  our  ante-revolutionary  annals,  as  do 
Washington,  Franklin,  La  Fayette,  Warren,  Montgomery, 
Greene,  Gates,  Morris,  Rutledge,  Laurens,  Hamilton, 
Adams,  Jay,  Jefferson,  and  a  hundred  others,  those  of 
the  half  century  which  has  since  passed  away. 

If  Englishmen  derived  any  substantial  benefits  from 
the  sturdy  resistance  of  their  haughty  barons  against  the 
despotic  prerogatives  of  the  crown — any  additional  im¬ 
munities  from  Magna  Gharta  extorted  by  force  from  an 
absolute  and  capricious  monarch — any  permanent  alle¬ 
viations  from  the  furious  convulsions  of  the  civil  wars 
under  Charles  and  the  Commonwealth  — any  constitu¬ 
tional  guarantee  for  civil  and  personal  rights  from  the 
glorious  revolution  which  transferred  the  crown  of  three 
kingdoms  from  the  Stuarts  to  William  and  Mary,  and 
finallv  to  the  house  of  Hanover — then  have  we  inherited 
and  shared,  to  the  fullest  extent,  all  these  mighty  boons 
of  English  prowess  and  of  English  chivalry. 

Here  then  is  our  vantage  ground.  Have  we  lost  it — 
have  we  forfeited  it — have  we  dishonoured  the  land  of 
our  sires — or  the  institutions  by  which  we  were  nurtured 
and  sustained?  Have  we  degenerated  in  intellect,  in 
spirit,  in  enterprise,  in  courage,  in  any  of  the  loftier 
attributes  which  distinguish  our  high-minded  kindred 
beyond  the  ocean?  How  proudly  and  triumphantly 
might  we,  in  reply,  point  to  these  twenty-four  vigorous 
and  flourishing  republics,  extending  over  half  a  conti¬ 
nent,  the  very  existence  of  which,  three  hundred  and 


232 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


forty  years  ago,  had  not  been  dreamt  of  by  European 
philosophy!  Does  the  history  of  our  world  furnish  a 
parallel  to  this?  A  little  more  than  two  centuries  since, 
and  an  Englishman  had  not  found  a  home  in  all  this 
then  vast  savage  wilderness.  Now,  within  the  limits  of 
our  own  republic,  we  have  a  population  of  thirteen  mil¬ 
lions — eleven  millions  of  freemen— and  at  least  ten 
millions  of  British  descent. 

Nearly  the  whole  of  the  colonists,  within  the  original 
territory  of  the  United  States,  were  English.  They  left 
the  parent  island  precisely  at  a  period  when  the  great 
mass  of  the  people  were  most  intensely  engaged  in  can¬ 
vassing  all  the  fundamental  principles  and  established 
dogmas  of  government  and  jurisprudence.  And  they 
themselves  belonged  to  the  unsuccessful  party  which 
contended,  with  a  Roman  energy,  for  the  inherent,  un¬ 
alienable,  indefeasible  rights  of  humanity.  They  came 
hither,  because  they  had  been  defeated  at  home — and 
for  the  very  purpose  of  enjoying  unmolested  in  the  New 
World  that  liberty  which  they  despaired  of  attaining  in 
the  Old. 

They  came  hither,  moreover,  freed  from  the  galling 
fetters  of  baronial  lordship,  and  from  all  the  prescriptive 
claims  and  vexatious  tyranny  of  a  feudal  aristocracy. 
When  they  landed  upon  these  dreary  shores,  they  were 
equals — they  were  brothers — they  were  freemen.  They 
instantly  commenced  the  bold  experiment  of  self-govern¬ 
ment.  They  had  fled  from  oppression — they  had  re¬ 
solved  to  live  free  or  die — and  they  have  never  yet  been 
subdued ;  or  deprived  of  the  advantages  of  a  popular 


•MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


233 


representative  government.  In  their  infancy,  it  is  true, 
they  were  neglected  and  overlooked— and  suffered  to 
struggle  onward  to  maturity  as  best  they  could.  The 
infant,  however,  soon  became  a  giant:  and  he  was  con¬ 
scious  of  his  strength. 

It  was  then  that  British  paternity  was  excited  to  look 
more  carefully  and  tenderly  after  its  exiled,  friendless, 
unprotected  progeny  in  the  deserts  of  remote  America. 
Our  gallant  fathers  had  given  some  tolerably  significant 
demonstrations  of  manhood  in  aiding  their  worthy  parent 
in  the  conquest  of  the  Canadas,  and  in  wresting  from  the 
Bourbons  the  last  vestige  of  their  transatlantic  conti¬ 
nental  dominions.  Whether  this  rather  unexpected  oc¬ 
currence  served  to  awaken  the  jealousy  or  the  cupidity, 
or  both,  of  the  British  government — it  is  certain  that 
they  forthwith  commenced  a  new  sj^stem  of  legislation 
for  their  then  comparatively  prosperous,  warlike  and 
powerful  colonies.  Their  object  was  twofold :  1st.  To 
depress  and  gradually  to  annihilate  the  growing  martial 
and  commercial  spirit  of  our  people.  And  2d.  To  extort 
from  us  a  revenue,  both  by  direct  taxation,  and  indirectly 
by  rendering  us  absolutely  dependent  on  themselves  for 
all  the  products  of  mechanical  and  manufacturing  indus¬ 
try.  Had  Great  Britain  succeeded  in  her  purpose,  we 
had  not  only  been  taxed  at  her  pleasure,  but  our  trade 
would  have  been  restricted  to  the  ports  of  the  parent 
state,  and  we  should  not,  at  this  day,  have  been  per¬ 
mitted  to  make,  out  of  our  own  native  iron,  a  hoe  or  a 
hobnail.  Such  was  the  splendid  project  of  the  British 
ministry  to  aggrandize  Old  England,  by  converting  her 


234 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


American  offspring  into  hewers  of  wood  and  drawers  of 
water  for  the  benefit  of  her  pampered  gentry  at  home. 

But,  did  she  succeed?  Ay,  that  is  the  question— and 
when  did  an  American  blush  to  meet  it?  Did  England 
succeed  in  crushing  the  English  spirit  of  her  American 
yeomanry?  Every  schoolboy  can  give  the  proper  answer. 
He  has  got  the  whole  story  of  the  revolution  by  heart. 
He  has  followed  the  American  standard,  with  streaming 
eyes  and  exulting  heart,  from  Lexington  and  Bunkers 
Hill  to  Saratoga  and  Yorktown. 

Almost  the  first  lessons  that  I  ever  received  from  the 
lips  of  maternal  affection,  were  the  victories  and  priva¬ 
tions,  the  exploits  and  the  sufferings  of  the  patriot  sol¬ 
dier.  And  the  first  mortal  name  that  I  learned  to  pro¬ 
nounce  with  almost  religious  veneration  was  the  name 
of  W ashington !  And  when  the  news  arrived  (I  was 
then  a  little  lad  at  school)  that  the  great  Washington 
wras  dead— we  all  felt  and  wept  as  though  we  had  lost 
a  father.  Such  another  scene  of  spontaneous  and  uni¬ 
versal  sorrow  I  have  never  witnessed  — nor  will  the 
impression  be  effaced  while  memory  endures.  None  of 
us — I  mean  the  children  at  school- — had  ever  seen  him 
- — but  our  fathers  and  mothers  had  seen  him,  and  had 
told  us  all  about  him— and  we  were  in  the  vicinity  of 
many  of  his  disasters  and  of  many  of  his  brightest 
achievements.  I  beheld  grief  and  dismay  in  every 
countenance.  None  so  poor,  go  mean,  so  ignorant,  as 
not  to  mourn  on  that  occasion.  I  should  have  been 
shocked,  child  as  I  was,  had  I  met  with  one  cheerful  or 
smiling  face.  The  whole  land  wore  the  garb  of  bereave- 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


235 


ment,  and  the  language  of  sorrow  flowed  from  every 
tongue.  When  did  king  or  emperor — when  did  hero  or 
conqueror  die — and  leave  a  nation  of  freemen  in  tears? 

But  it  is  not  my  purpose  to  portray  the  character  of 
Washington  nor  to  pronounce  his  eulogy,  I  shall  not 
attempt  even  a  review  of  the  principal  transactions  and 
events  of  his  extraordinary  and  singularly  fortunate  life, 
nor  of  the  consequences  which  have  resulted,  or  may  yet 
.result,  to  mankind,  from  so  august  and  imposing  an  ex¬ 
ample  of  disinterested  and  holy  devotion  to  the  cause  of 
liberty  and  human  happiness.  I  have  not  been  allowed 
the  leisure  necessary  to  do  justice  even  to  my  own  hum¬ 
ble  and  inadequate  conceptions  of  the  magnitude,  import¬ 
ance  and  momentous  bearing  of  these  high  topics.  Such 
themes  demand  a  master’s  pencil  and  an  angel’s  tongue. 

Under  other  circumstances,  a  glance  at  the  prominent 
features  and  occurrences  of  the  past  century  might  have 
been  expected:  and  their  exhibition,  after  due  research 
and  skilful  grouping,  might  have  proved  instructive,  and 
afforded  scope  for  much  apposite  comment  and  deduc¬ 
tion.  But  to  condense  the  voluminous  records  of  a  hun¬ 
dred  years  within  the  compass  of  a  speech — or  even  to 
seize  upon  the  most  striking  incidents,  and  to  adorn  them 
with  the  magic  drapery  of  classic  diction,  is  not  the  prov¬ 
ince  of  extemporaneous  impulse,  or  of  a  few  hours  of 
hurried  feverish  premeditation. 

From  the  birth  of  Washington  in  1732  to  the  present 
day,  war  and  pestilence,  in  every  part  of  the  globe,  have 
inflicted  their  full  measure  of  calamity,  wo  and  death. 
Oceans  of  blood  have  been  shed.  Kingdom  has  been 


236 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


dashed  against  kingdom.  Revolution  has  succeeded 
revolution.  Kings  and  princes  have  been  tried  and 
executed  as  malefactors — or  have  wandered  as  exiles 
and  paupers  over  the  face  of  the  earth.  Ancient  estab¬ 
lishments  have  been  cloven  down  by  an  infuriated  popu¬ 
lace  or  by  a  mercenary  soldiery.  The  throne  and  the 
altar  have  been  trampled  under  foot.  Roj^al  dynasties 
have  been  blotted  out,  or  exchanged  for  military  adven¬ 
turers  or  citizen  patriots.  Colonial  dependencies  have 
been  transformed  into  independent  kingdoms  or  repub¬ 
lics.  The  land  of  Kosciusko  has  been  partitioned  and 
enslaved — while  the  country  of  Leonidas  and  Themis- 
tocles  has  regained  its  sovereignty  and  freedom.  The 
whole  European  family  of  nations,  with  all  their  Amer¬ 
ican  kindred,  have  undergone  changes  more  or  less  radi¬ 
cal,  and  tending  to  future  results,  which  no  political 
prophet  will  yet  venture  to  announce  or  describe. 

In  the  midst,  however,  of  all  the  tumult,  uproar,  con¬ 
vulsion,  carnage  and  devastation  which  have  pre-emi¬ 
nently  characterized  this  remarkable  period  of  our  world’s 
history — science,  philosophy,  letters,  the  mechanical  and 
the  fine  arts,  poetry,  eloquence,  religion  and  popular  edu¬ 
cation  have  advanced  and  prospered  beyond  all  previous 
example.  As  have  also  associations  and  institutions  for 
the  amelioration  of  the  human  character  and  condition 
in  every  variety  of  form.  Here  is  presented  the  bright 
side  of  the  picture.  The  revolutionary  and  the  martial 
spirit  has  not  been  abroad  in  the  earth,  merely  to  over¬ 
whelm,  to  destroy  and  to  conquer — or  merely  to  aggran¬ 
dize  the  few  at  the  expense  of  the  million.  A  silent, 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


unobtrusive,  healthful,  counteracting  influence  has  been 
constantly  exerted  over  the  conflicting  elements  of  human 
passion  and  ambition.  Though  war,  with  all  its  tremen¬ 
dous  attributes,  has  raged  among  the  nations,  yet  no 
return  of  savage  barbarism  has  been  witnessed.  The 
Goths  and  Yandals  have  not  again  been  let  loose  to 
exterminate  the  crumbling  monuments  of  an  antiquated 
civilization — and  to  erect  upon  the  ruins  an  iron  despot¬ 
ism  of  ignorance,  superstition  and  cruelty.  There  was 
too  much  light  and  knowledge  and  philosophy  and  relig¬ 
ion  in  the  world  to  permit  such  a  catastrophe.  But  for 
these,  the  dark  ages  might  have  revisited  the  fairest  por¬ 
tion  of  the  European  continent.  And  the  ferocious  Cos¬ 
sack  might  have  enacted  in  Paris  the  same  tragedy  which 
his  ancestor  had  done  at  Rome,  or  the  Saracen  at  Alex¬ 
andria,  or  the  Turk  at  Constantinople. 

But  a  thousand  gifted  benevolent  spirits  had  been  at 
work,  for  a  dozen  generations,  all  over  Christendom — 
and  by  the  aid  of  the  printer’s  art,  had  diffused  the  prin¬ 
ciples  of  self-preservation,  and  of  invincible  resistance  to 
any  permanently  ruinous  encroachments  upon  the  gen¬ 
eral  stock  of  moral  and  political  immunities  already 
secured.  The  world  could  not  be  driven  back  by  any 
modern  Attila  or  Omar  or  Tamerlane.  Intellectual  and 
moral  power,  when  possessed  by  the  body  of  the  people, 
will  ever  triumph  over  every  species  of  mere  brute  force. 
It  will  not  be  pretended  that  the  present  condition  of 
the  people  in  Europe  is  worse  now  than  it  was  fifty 
years  ago.  Whether  they  have  gained  a  fair  equiva¬ 
lent  for  all  their  sacrifices  and  sufferings,  is  a  ques- 


238 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


tion  which  philanthropy ,  perhaps,  might  hesitate  to 
answer. 

Whether,  for  instance,  the  progress  of  intellectual  im¬ 
provement  has  been  accelerated  or  retarded  by  this  uni¬ 
versal  warfare — whether  it  would  have  been  less,  equal 
or  greater,  had  uninterrupted  peace  prevailed — can  never 
be  known.  That  it  has  been  rapidly  progressive,  is  cer¬ 
tain.  Every  field  of  inquiry  has  been  more  extensively 
and  minutely  investigated — every  department  of  litera¬ 
ture  has  been  enlarged  and  enriched — all  the  physical 
and  experimental  sciences  have  been,  in  a  great  meas¬ 
ure,  created — while  the  exact  sciences  have  been  carried 
almost  to  perfection — mechanical  ingenuity,  invention 
and  discovery  have  imparted  a  totally  new  character  to 
the  useful  arts — Franklin,  Arkwright,  Watt,  Fulton, 
Whitney,  Davy  and  others  have  demonstrated  to  the 
world  the  value  of  science  in  every  branch  of  productive 
industry.  Ethics,  political  economy,  jurisprudence,  legis¬ 
lation  have  advanced,  more  or  less,  towards  systematic 
maturity.  When,  therefore,  we  contrast  the  existing 
aspect  of  the  world  with  what  it  was  a  century  or  even 
half  a  century  ago,  we  shall  not  complain  because  more 
has  not  been  achieved,  nor  murmur  at  those  dark  and 
distressing  dispensations  of  Providence  which  no  human 
wisdom  or  power  could  prevent  or  control — and  the  bear¬ 
ing  of  which  upon  the  destinies  of  mankind  we  may  be 
utterly  unable  to  estimate  or  to  comprehend. 

Ten  millions  of  human  beings,  it  may  be,  have  been 
slaughtered  in  Europe  and  America,  since  the  grand  revo¬ 
lutionary  movement  commenced.  We  have  no  standard 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


239 


by  which  to  measure  or  estimate  the  value  of  such  a 
sacrifice.  Has  it  benefited  the  living?  Will  it  benefit 
posterity?  These  are  questions  which  we  may  reason¬ 
ably  ask — and  in  which,  we,  as  Americans,  are  deeply 
interested. 

The  American  revolution  was  not  merely  the  precur¬ 
sor — it  was  the  occasion  and  the  mainspring  of  all  the 
revolutions  which  have  followed.  Or,  at  any  rate,  it  has 
imparted  to  them  a  more  distinctive  and  popular  cast. 
The  example  of  America  has  been  uniformly  hailed,  and 
appealed  to,  and  held  up  to  the  admiration  of  the  people, 
whenever  a  revolution  in  government  has  since  been 
attempted.  Her  adventurous  and  glorious  career  has 
been  the  constant  theme  of  study  and  excitement  among 
the  restless,  the  discontented  and  the  oppressed.  Her 
good  fortune  has  been  invoked  in  every  similar  enter¬ 
prise,  and  an  equally  happy  issue  has  been  frequently 
anticipated  and  confidently  predicted.  And  why  has 
every  experiment  hitherto  failed  to  realize  the  sanguine 
expectations  of  the  friends  of  liberty  and  equal  rights? 

'  Why  could  not  France  or  Mexico  or  Colombia  or  Spain 
or  Greece  or  Belgium  achieve  what  thirteen  poor  English 
colonies  completely  effected— without  the  least  domestic 
confusion  or  fraternal  carnage?  I  am  not  now  inquiring 
whether  they  have  not  gained  much — very  much.  But 
why  they  have  not  gained  all  for  which  they  struggled 
and  fought — all  at  which  we  supposed  they  were  aiming. 
Why  they  have  not  succeeded  to  the  same  extent  that 
our  fathers  did,  when  they  resolved  on  national  emanci¬ 
pation. 


240 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


This  inquiry  recalls  us  to  the  period  of  our  Washing¬ 
ton’s  severest  trials  and  most  eminent  services.  What 
was  there  in  the  peculiar  character  and  circumstances  of 
the  English  American  colonies  which,  previously  to  the 
commencement  of  hostilities,  augured  and  promised  a 
more  auspicious  result,  than  was  likely  to  follow  any 
similar  efforts  in  Europe  or  Spanish  America?  The 
usual  answer  is,  that  the  Americans  were  more  enlight¬ 
ened  and  more  virtuous  than  any  other  people.  I  appre- 
|  * 

hend  that  the  fact,  if  admitted,  does  not  meet  the  diffi¬ 
culty  or  account  for  the  difference  in  the  cases  supposed. 
That  intelligence  and  virtue  among  the  people  will  insure 
a  large  measure  of  civil  and  personal  liberty,  is  not 
doubted.  But  that  they  necessarily  lead  to  political 
liberty,  or  to  the  establishment  of  a  republican  repre¬ 
sentative  government,  cannot  be  assumed. 

In  Prussia,  Austria  and  ail  the  German  Principalities, 
the  people  are  universally  well  instructed,  orderly,  moral 
and  industrious.  They  have  more  common  schools,  more 
universities,  and  a  larger  proportion  of  thoroughly  learned 
men,  than  any  other  countries  of  either  hemisphere.  And 
yet  their  governments  are  absolute  monarchies,  and  infi¬ 
nitely  less  disturbed  by  popular  commotions  and  innova¬ 
tions  than  those  of  Italy,  Spain  and  Portugal — where  the 
people  are  proverbially  ignorant,  degraded  and  vicious. 
In  France,  too,  at  the  crisis  of  the  first  revolution,  the 
people  were  not  much  in  advance  of  their  neighbours 
beyond  the  Alps  and  the  Pyrenees.  Whatever  cause 
may  be  assigned  for  that  abortive  revolution,  it  will  not 
be  ascribed  to  the  unanimous  determination  of  an  en- 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


241 


lightened  and  virtuous  people  to  be  free,  under  a  govern¬ 
ment  of  their  own  creation. 

In  Sweden,  Denmark  and  Holland — which,  next  to 
Germany,  are  the  most  enlightened  portions  of  the  Eu¬ 
ropean  continent — no  approaches  to  republican  institu¬ 
tions  have  been  witnessed  during  the  last  century,  what¬ 
ever  additional  rights  the  people  may  have  acquired. 
Contrast  also  the  condition  of  Scotland  and  Ireland. 
The  common  people  of  the  latter  are  more  ignorant  and 
more  revolutionary  than  any  other  people  in  Europe. 

Germany  ought  to  be  the  freest  portion  of  the  globe — 
that  is,  if  freedom  and  self-government  are  regarded  as 
synonymous  or  correlative — and  if  the  greatest  amount 
and  most  extensive  diffusion  of  literary  knowledge  tend 
directly  to  its  acquisition. 

The 

taken  into  the  account.  The  German  people,  and  I  may 
add,  the  European  people  generally,  have  not,  since  the 
usurpation  of  Julius  Caesar,  been  in  the  habit  of  meddling 
with  political  affairs,  or  of  taking  any  efficient  part  in 
the  business  of  government.  On  these  subjects  they  are 
not  permitted  to  read  much — nothing,  indeed,  beyond 
the  text-books  purposely  prepared  for  their  instruction 
in  orthodox  loyalty  and  obedience.  But  even  the  most 
unlimited  license,  on  this  score,  would  not  suffice.  They 
could  not  learn  from  books  the  peculiar  mysteries — or, 
without  experience,  acquire  any  definite  ideas — of  popu¬ 
lar  representative  systems.  Even  in  France,  at  this  day, 
the  system  is  but  a  sorry  caricature  of  England’s  boasted 

constitution.  And,  in  England,  even  when  reformed  to 
VOL.  hi. — 16 


theory  is  defective— and  other  elements  must  be 


242 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOUESES  AND  ESSAYS. 


the  entire  contentment  of  Earl  Grey  and  his  noble  com¬ 
peers,  we  shall  find  little  to  remind  us  of  the  thoroughly 
popular  machinery  of  our  own  government. 

Much  as  we  are  supposed  to  have  borrowed  from  Eng¬ 
land — much  as  our  institutions  are  reputed  to  resemble 
hers — it  is  notorious  that  Englishmen  seem  absolutely 
incapable  of  comprehending  the  genius  and  practical 
operations  of  our  government.  When  they  speak  of 
the  people,  they  mean  the  populace — the  rabble — the 
mob — and  without  an  aristocracy,  in  some  form,  to  con¬ 
trol  their  anarchical  and  tumultuary  tendencies,  they 
cannot  conceive  of  any  stable  security  for  life  or  prop¬ 
erty  or  law  or  religion.  Now  we  have  no  populace  in 
the  European  sense  of  the  term — we  never  had  a  popu¬ 
lace.  We  have  never  been  exposed  to  popular  riots  and 
insurrections.  Nor  have  we  ever  needed  a  standing 
army  to  overawe  the  people  or  to  sustain  the  govern¬ 
ment.  We  have  but  one  order — and  all  the  people 
belong  to  it.  One  homogeneous  mass  of  free  and  equal 
citizens. 

European  revolutions  cannot  be  expected  therefore 
immediately,  under  any  moral  or  intellectual  training, 
to  eventuate  in  those  forms  of  simple  democracy,  and 
■)  universal  suffrage,  and  popular  representation,  which  to 
us  seem  so  natural  and  obvious,  and  without  which  we 
are  apt  to  fancy  there  can  be  no  liberty  and  no  happi¬ 
ness.  The  people  must  have  political  training — they 
must  acquire  the  art  of  self-government,  step  by  step, — 
and  hence  a  series  of  changes  or  revolutions  must  take 
place  before  they  arrive  at  our  modes  of  thinking  and 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


243 


acting — if,  indeed,  such  a  consummation  shall  ever  be 
realized.  The  people  may  be  seduced  and  misled  and 
deceived  by  names — but  they  always  act  from  habit .  A 
President  and  Congress  might  abundantly  satisfy  a  dis¬ 
contented  people,  who  had  heard  of  their  good  fruits  in 
America.  And  yet  the  President  and  Congress  might 
govern  such  a  people  very  much  after  the  fashion  of 
King  and  Parliament,  without  exciting  a  murmur  of 
jealousy  or  suspicion. 

With  our  people,  the  case  was  totally  different.  They 
were  generally  pretty  well  informed  and  respectably 
moral,  it  is  true.  But  more  than  this — they  had  been 
trained  and  drilled  and  disciplined,  from  the  outset,  in 
the  business  of  self-government.  It  was  their  usage — 
their  habit- — a  part  of  their  very  nature.  Any  other 
form  of  government  was  to  them  foreign — it  wras  odious 
— it  was  tyranny.  They  learned  the  art  from  the  very 
necessity  of  their  position — in  little  companies  and  asso¬ 
ciations — a  ship-load  at  a  time — a  settlement  of  a  few 
hundred,  frequently  constituting  a  sort  of  independent 
commonwealth — -and  obliged  to  exercise  all  the  rights 
of  sovereignty  and  all  the  functions  of  legislation  and 
government,  to  preserve  tranquillity  among  themselves 
and  to  prevent  or  meet  hostilities  from  the  natives  and 
their  allies. 

Our  noble  fathers — yes,  they  were  noble,  gallant  spir¬ 
its — nature’s  noblemen — we  name  them  with  pride  and 
reverence — brought  with  them  English  hearts  and  Eng¬ 
lish  virtues — but,  from  the  first,  they  were  free  from  all 
direct  English  domination.  They  set  up  for  themselves. 


244 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


They  elected  their  own  rulers  and  legislators.  Every 
man  had  a  voice  in  the  affairs  of  state.  He  voted,  and 
was  eligible  to  office.  Thus  they  advanced  in  the  art 
and  practice  of  popular  representation,  and  became  habit¬ 
ually  familiar  with  all  the  attributes,  duties,  privileges 
and  responsibilities  of  self-dependent  and  self-governing 
republicans. 

They  were  still  the  loyal,  dutiful  subjects  of  his  Bri¬ 
tannic  Majesty.  But  they  had  their  own  parliaments, 
the  members  of  which  were  chosen  immediately  by  the 
sovereign  people,  annually  or  biennially— and,  in  some 
cases,  even  semi-annually.  They  had  royal  governors 
in  many  instances.  But  the  colonial  legislatures  were 
always  opposing  them,  and  ever  on  the  watch  against 
the  slightest  encroachment  on  the  rights  of  the  people. 
They  endured  much  vexation  from  this  quarter- — but 
they  never  suffered  the  arm  of  tyranny  to  be  extended 
over  them.  When  aggrieved  they  petitioned  or  remon¬ 
strated— but  never  yielded  to  injustice  or  oppression. 

Their  commerce  and  manufactures  were  regulated  or 
restricted,  in  no  very  gracious  manner,  to  suit  the  mo¬ 
nopolizing  policy  of  the  British  ministry.  And  on  this 
score,  they  were  subjected  to  many  serious  inconveniences 
and  privations.  Still,  they  were  substantially  and  prac¬ 
tically  a  free,  republican,  self-governing  people — as  much 
so  as  they  are  now. 

We  have  been  so  long  accustomed  to  read  and  hear  of 
British  tyranny,  and  of  our  emancipation  from  a  sort  of 
Egyptian  bondage — that  we  are  extremely  apt  to  mis¬ 
take  the  real  condition  of  our  ancestors,  and  to  fancy 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


245 


that  they  were  slaves.  Europeans  fall  into  the  same 
error,  whenever  they  speculate  about  our  colonial  vassal- 
age  and  present  institutions.  They  view  us  as  youthful 
adventurers,  who  have  been  and  still  are  trying  a  very 
doubtful  and  perilous  experiment.  They  concede  that 
we  have  managed  pretty  well  for  some  fifty  years — but 
then  it  is  even  yet  but  an  experiment  of  fifty  years  at 
most.  And  their  wise  men  are  still  extremely  skeptical 
as  to  the  final  result.  They  think  that  we  must  come 
to  monarchy  at  last — or  that  a  military  despotism  will 
be  erected  upon  the  ruins  of  the  republic.  And  they 
refer  us  to  Greece  and  Rome  and  to  the  fate  of  all  other 
republics.  They  do  not  know — and  we  have  ourselves 
nearly  forgotten — that  we  have  been  learning  the  art, 
and  trying  the  experiment  of  free  government,  of  self- 
government,  of  republican  representative  government,  for 
more  than  two  hundred  years.  It  is  a  libel  on  the  char¬ 
acter  of  our  fathers  to  say  that  they  were  ever  enslaved. 
They  not  only  maintained  inviolate  and  cherished  most 
religiously,  all  the  natural  and  all  the  constitutional 
rights  and  liberties  of  free-born  Englishmen — but  they 
reared  up  institutions  and  structures  of  a  far  more  liberal 
and  popular  cast  than  England  had  ever  known,  or  than 
England  has  yet  dared  to  hope  for.  And  all  this  too 
while  they  were  dependent,  though  not  servile  colonists. 

Possessing,  as  they  did,  a  spirit  and  domestic  govern¬ 
ments  so  thoroughly  popular — so  radically  and  invincibly 
republican — it  seems  wonderful  that  the  British  ministry 
could  have  been  so  infatuated  as  to  dream  of  extorting 
from  them,  by  artifice  or  by  violence,  the  very  right,  in 


246 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


defence  of  which  every  Englishman  would  hazard  life 
and  fortune  and  sacred  honour — the  very  right  which 
lies  at  the  foundation  and  constitutes  the  essence  of  Eng¬ 
lish  liberty — the  very  right,  which,  at  home,  would  have 
been  the  last  that  any  visionary  or  dementated  statesman 
would  have  thought  of  invading  or  of  calling  in  question. 
But  this  rash  and  fatal  attempt  was  made.  Be  it  remem¬ 
bered  however — it  was  only  the  attempt  that  was  made. 
Englishmen  cannot  be  taxed  without  their  own  consent 
— legally  given  by  their  representatives  in  Parliament. 
We  had  no  representatives  in  the  British  Parliament — 
neither  Peers  nor  Commoners.  The  British  Parliament 
therefore  could  not  tax  Englishmen  resident  in  America, 
—  without  a  palpable  violation  of  the  British  constitu¬ 
tion.  The  colonial  assemblies  wrere  our  only  parliaments 
— and  through  their  agency  alone  could  taxes  be  levied 
upon  our  citizens  for  the  support  of  the  common  govern¬ 
ment.  The  British  ministry  and  Parliament  however 
held  a  different  doctrine — and,  in  the  plenitude  of  their 
power  and  of  their  folly,  resolved  to  tax  the  colonies. 

Hence  originated  the  war  of  our  glorious  revolution. — 
A  controversy,  at  first,  not  for  independence,  but  for  con¬ 
stitutional  liberty.  The  justice  of  our  cause  was  not 
questioned,  at  the  time,  by  any  enlightened  patriot  in 
England.  By  all  the  world,  it  has  since  been  acknowl¬ 
edged.  Had  we  hesitated,  Englishmen  would  have  de¬ 
rided  and  scorned  us  as  recreant,  degenerate,  cowardly 
apostates.  Had  we  tamely  yielded  to  British  usurpation 
— had  we  conceded  the  legal  right  of  Parliament  to  tax 
us  at  their  pleasure — we  had  been  slaves  indeed.  And 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


247 


what  we  might  have  been  at  this  day  would  not  be 
worth  the  trouble  of  conjecturing. 

It  was  a  war,  then,  on  our  part,  strictly  of  principle. 
It  was  not  the  amount  or  magnitude  of  the  burden  which 
was  attempted  at  first  to  be  imposed — it  was  not  the 
jialtry  pounds,  shillings  and  pence  which  were  likely  to 
be  drawn  from  our  purse — that  caused  an  appeal  to  the 
sword.  It  was  the  vital,  fundamental  principle,  upon 
which  all  free  institutions  rest,  and  without  which  there 
can  be  no  liberty  and  no  security — for  which  we  con¬ 
tended.  This  principle  of  self-taxation — of  unrestricted 
absolute  control  over  our  own  property — of  taxation  and 
representation — we  would  not  yield  or  renounce.  We 
indignantly  repelled  every  insidious  effort  to  bring  about 
its  surrender — and  we  finally  crushed,  on  the  battle-field, 
all  hope  of  achieving  this  favourite  object  by  military 
force. 

The  struggle  was  long  and  fierce,  and,  to  most  human 
eyes,  awfully  doubtful  as  to  the  issue.  Everything  on 
our  part  was  at  stake.  We  had  entered  the  lists,  single- 
handed,  against  the  most  powerful  and  opulent  nation  in 
the  world,  and  without  one  avowed  friend  even  to  cheer 
us  onward.  Our  fathers  saw  full  well  the  perils  of  their 
position,  and  the  tremendous  responsibility  which  they 
had  assumed.  But  their  only  alternative  was  victorious 
war,  or  unmitigated  hopeless  servitude.  Liberty  or  death , 
therefore,  became  their  motto  and  their  watchword. — 
They  had  been  born  free  —  they  had  lived  free— and 
could  they  fail  to  transmit  this  freedom  unimpaired  to 
posterity?  It  was  because  they  had  ever  been  free,  that 


248 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS 


they  deliberately  preferred  death  to  slavery.  It  was  to 
secure  and  to  perpetuate  this  freedom — not  to  acquire 
it — that  they  generously  put  all  to  the  hazard  against 
fearful  odds.  They  fought  because  they  never  had  been 
slaves — and  because  they  never  would  be  slaves. 

We  were  then  but  a  handful  of  people,  scattered 
thinly  over  an  immense  territory,  easily  accessible  at 
every  point  by  hostile  fleets  and  hostile  savages,  without 
money,  without  arms,  and  without  military  science,  and 
suddenly  plunged  into  a  desperate  contest  with  the  proud 
mistress  of  the  ocean,  and  the  acknowledged  arbitress  of 
Europe.  To  all  indifferent  spectators  it  seemed  a  matter 
of  course  that  British  armies  and  navies  would  speedily 
triumph  over  all  the  opposition  which  we  could  possibly 
make — even  though  every  man,  woman  and  child  had 
resolved  to  perish  rather  than  submit.  And  when,  even 
now,  we  look  back  upon  that  portentous  crisis,  we  can¬ 
not  help  asking  the  question — what  might  not  a  British 
army  of  50,000  strong,  in  one  body,  marching  through 
our  country,  have  effected  ?  Humanly  speaking,  such 
an  army  might  have  exterminated  our  entire  population. 
But  if  joined  by  the  tories  or  loyalists,  by  the  timid, 
wavering  and  selfish — the  whole  affair  would  have  been 
quickly  settled.  Our  Hampdens  and  Sidneys,  our  Fitz¬ 
geralds  and  Emmets,  would  have  been  hanged  as  rebels 
or  traitors— as  they  have  been  in  Ireland  and  in  other 
countries — and  the  rest  of  the  people  would  have  been 
at  the  mercy  of  a  haughty,  vindictive  and  exasperated 
master. 

We  outlived  the  tempest  and  escaped  the  danger — 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


249 


and  from  free  colonies,  became  free  and  independent 
states.  Our  patriotic  and  persevering  exertions  were 
signally  blessed  and  prospered  by  Heaven.  As,  in  such 
trying  emergencies,  everything  under  God,  depends  on 
the  capacity,  wisdom  and  conduct  of  the  leader,  so  were 
we  provided,  at  the  precise  juncture  when  essentially 
needed,  with  a  man  to  guide  our  counsels  and  to  com¬ 
mand  our  armies,  in  all  respects  equal  to  the  mighty 
conflict.  That  God,  in  his  goodness,  does  raise  up  and 
qualify  extraordinary  instruments  to  execute  his  great 
purposes  in  our  world,  cannot  be  doubted  by  any  sober 
student  of  history  or  believer  in  revelation  or  in  provi¬ 
dence.  Such  a  man  was  our  illustrious  and  peerless 
Washington. 

In  him,  from  the  beginning,  and  through  all  the  dark 
and  threatening  vicissitudes  of  a  seven  years’  war,  his 
country  reposed  unlimited  and  unwavering  confidence. 
His  ability,  his  patriotism,  his  integrity,  his  prudence, 
his  sagacity,  his  zeal,  his  courage,  his  judgment,  his 
patience,  his  promptitude,  decision,  perseverance,  were 
never  questioned  or  suspected.  His  benevolence,  dig¬ 
nity  of  carriage,  imposing  presence,  kindness,  magna¬ 
nimity,  disinterested  devotion  to  his  country,  intelli¬ 
gence,  urbanity,  simplicity,  perfect  purity  of  life  and 
manners,  commanded  universal  respect,  and  won  the 
hearts  of  all  classes  of  the  people.  Of  the  soldiery, 
he  was  ever  the  idol  of  their  most  affectionate  vener¬ 
ation. 

Whoever  reverts  to  this  stormy  epoch  of  our  history 
— especially  as  it  has  been  more  fully  revealed  by  the 


250 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


recent  publication  of  secret  journals  and  diplomatic  cor¬ 
respondence, — will  be  amazed  at  the  difficulties,  obstacles 
and  embarrassments  of  all  sorts,  which  were  actually  en¬ 
countered  and  overcome.  And  who,  he  will  be  ready,  at 
every  successive  stage,  to  exclaim — who,  but  a  Washing¬ 
ton,  could  have  been  sufficient  for  these  things?  Was 
there  another  man  in  America  or  in  the  world,  who 
could  have  filled  his  station,  or  performed  his  glorious 
part  in  the  grand  drama,  of  which  the  half  of  Christen¬ 
dom  was  the  theatre  or  the  actors? 

Under  the  auspices  of  Washington,  the  war  wras,  at 
length,  happily  terminated.  And  Washington  instantly 
sheathed  his  sword — disbanded  his  victorious  weeping  vet¬ 
erans — resigned  his  high  office  of  Commander-in-chief — 
laid  aside  all  the  insignia  of  military  pomp  and  power — 
and  retired,  without  star  or  coronet  or  pension,  a  simple 
citizen  farmer,  to  his  plain  republican  mansion  on  the 
banks  of  the  Potomac.  Such  a  sublime  spectacle  had 
never  before  been  exhibited  in  our  world.  It  was  in 
keeping  with  every  previous  act  of  his  life.  It  was 
wrhat  every  American  anticipated  as  matter  of  course. 
It  therefore  excited  no  surprise  at  home.  Our  Wash¬ 
ington  was  too  well  known  to  be  suspected  as  capable 
of  aiming  at  any  species  of  self-aggrandizement  what¬ 
ever. 

Here  I  cannot  forbear  to  add  one  reflection  respecting 
his  military  career,  which  has  often  occurred  to  me  when 
perusing  the  history  of  other  distinguished  warriors,  and 
which  elevates  the  character  of  the  former  above  all  com¬ 
parison.  Washington  never  caused  one  drop  of  blood  to 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


251 


be  shed  unnecessarily  or  unrighteously.  He  never  in¬ 
flicted  a  cruel  or  unjust  punishment.  He  never  resented 
or  revenged  a  private  wrong  or  insult.  He  never  pro¬ 
voked  the  imprecations  or  the  tears  of  the  widow  or  the 
orphan.  The  ordinary  calamities  of  war,  he  mitigated 
in  every  practicable  way.  *  His  humanity,  forbearance 
and  generosity  were  proverbial  even  among  his  enemies. 
And  they  dared  to  rely  on  his  clemency  and  goodness, 
when  they  had  forfeited  all  claims  to  his  justice,  by  out¬ 
raging  the  laws  and  usages  of  honourable  warfare.  This 
was  a  godlike  trait  in  a  character  where  all  was  noble, 
heroic  and  transcendent. 

The  close  of  the  war,  though  brilliant  and  satisfactory 
to  every  patriot,  presented  new  trials  and  unforeseen 
dangers.  It  secured  independence  to  thirteen  distinct 
republics — united  in  name  only — while,  in  all  the  essen¬ 
tial  attributes  of  sovereignty,  they  stood  aloof  from  each 
other,  and  seemed  disposed  each  to  manage  its  own  affairs 
without  regard  to  the  will  or  weal  of  the  rest.  This  too 
was  a  gloomy  and  disastrous  period  of  our  history.  The 
services  of  Washington  were  again  demanded.  He  was 
numbered  first  among  the  sages  who  framed  our  admira¬ 
ble  constitution.  He  was  elected  by  the  people  to  organ¬ 
ize  and  to  administer  the  new  government :  and  with 
what  efficiency,  wisdom,  equity  and  success,  need  not  be 
told.  Washington  was  then  confessedly  the  only  indi¬ 
vidual  who  could  have  united  the  suffrages  of  his  coun¬ 
trymen,  or  commanded  for  the  Union  the  respect  of 
foreign  nations. 

If  our  Union  has  proved  a  blessing — Washington  must 


i 


252 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


be  regarded  as  its  father.  If  our  constitution  and  gen¬ 
eral  government  have  made  us  a  great  and  prosperous 
and  powerful  nation — let  the  meed  of  praise  be  awarded 
to  Washington. 

In  peace  then  as  well  as  in  war — at  the  head  of  a 

NATION  AS  WELL  AS  OF  AN  ARMY— WASHINGTON  WAS  EVER 
FIRST — WITHOUT  AN  EQUAL  AND  WITHOUT  A  RIVAL. 

Among  other  benefits  and  privileges,  the  Revolution 
has  assured  to  us : 

1.  All  the  popular  rights  and  institutions  which  we 
had  previously  enjoyed — together  with  infinitely  better 
security  for  their  future  preservation. 

2.  National  Independence — which  has  freed  us  for¬ 
ever  from  the  vexatious  and  oppressive  interference  of  a 
distant,  jealous  and  unfriendly  government;  and  which 
guaranties  to  us  the  pursuit  of  our  own  interests  agree¬ 
ably  to  the  dictates  of  our  own  judgment. 

3.  Perfect  equality  of  rank  among  all  our  people. 
For  although,  prior  to  the  revolution,  we  had  no  hered¬ 
itary  nobility  or  privileged  aristocracy,  yet  there  were 
incipient  indications  of  an  approach  to  such  creations: 
and,  probably,  a  few  years  more  of  colonial  dependence 
would  have  introduced  among  us  a  patrician  order ,  which 
might  have  proved  a  lasting  impediment  to  pure  repub¬ 
lican  institutions.  The  tendencies  of  English  measures 
and  policy  were  evidently  to  this  end.  The  practice  of 
entailing  estates  had  begun  to  prevail,  to  a  considerable 
extent,  in  several  of  the  provinces — and  this  alone  would 
have  given  rise  in  time  to  a  powerful  aristocracy.  It 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


253 


was  abolished  by  the  revolution.  The  mother  country 
had  also,  from  time  to  time,  supplied  us  with  a  few  choice 
specimens  of  lordly  excellence,  in  the  shape  of  governors 
and  military  officers — but  the  article  had  never  been 
naturalized  upon  our  soil  nor  become  incorporated  with 
our  system.  In  this  particular,  the  genius  of  our  insti¬ 
tutions  is  as  abhorrent  from  British  feeling  and  usage,  as 
if  we  had  sprung  from  a  different  race.  And  to  this  day, 
our  boasted  equality  is  a  source  of  exquisite  satire  and 
ridicule  among  British  wits — who  cannot  comprehend 
how  a  plain  mechanic  or  labouring  farmer  should  wear 
a  sword,  or  work  his  way  into  the  halls  of  Congress.  In 
England  there  is  no  sympathy  between  the  upper  classes 
and  the  plebeian  operatives.  Even  Lord  Grey,  within  a 
few  months  past,  has  been  denounced  and  lampooned  in 
most  of  the  Tory  Journals,  because  he  condescended  to 
receive  with  courtesy,  in  his  official  capacity,  a  Westmin¬ 
ster  deputation  of  honest  citizens,  headed  by  a  respect¬ 
able  tailor  and  apothecary!  England’s  hereditary  aris¬ 
tocracy  and  ecclesiastical  establishment  will  probably 
prove  a  far  more  formidable  barrier  to  pure  democracy 
or  American  republicanism  than  her  king  with  all  his 
royal  prerogatives,  or  than  any  mere  monarchical  des¬ 
potism  whatever.  While  the  former  shall  be  maintained, 
no  species  of  reform  will  confer  on  the  people  all  the 
natural  rights  of  freemen. 

The  decisive  battle  is  yet  to  be  fought  all  over  Europe 
between  the  aristocracy  and  the  people.  The  great  mass 
of  the  latter  have  not  yet,  in  any  country,  acquired  the 
elective  franchise — not  even  nominally  or  in  its  most 


254 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


limited  application.  They  are  still  an  inferior — and,  in 
many  respects,  a  degraded  caste. 

4.  Unlimited  freedom  of  opinion — in  regard  to  all 
subjects,  religious,  political,  philosophical,  speculative, 
practical.  We  may  believe  what  we  please,  say  what 
we  please,  publish  what  we  please,  teach  what  we  please 
— pray,  preach  and  worship  as  we  please.  We  have 
no  state  religion — no  inquisitorial  tribunals — no  secret 
police — no  censorship  of  the  press. 
s  5.  State  offences  are  unknown  among  us.  “It  is  a 
beautiful  trait  (says  a  foreigner)  in  the  history  of  the 
American  Government,  that  it  has  never  shed  a  drop 
of  human  blood,  nor  banished  a  single  individual  for 
state  crimes.”  Contrast  this  one  fact  with  the  long 
catalogue  of  state  criminals  who  have  been  legally  mur¬ 
dered  on  the  scaffold  or  the  gibbet  in  Great  Britain, 
since  the  reign  of  Charles  the  First,  or  even  since  the 
accession  of  George  the  Third. 

6.  Our  property,  lives,  reputation,  religion  and  rights 
of  every  kind  are  inviolable.  They  are  intrusted  to  our 
own  keeping.  They  cannot  be  invaded  or  infringed. 

1  7.  Freedom  from  all  excessive  and  burdensome  tax¬ 

ation.  We  have  established  a  cheap  government.  And 
have  demonstrated  that  a  great  and  powerful  empire 
may  be  well  and  cheaply  governed  at  the  same  time. 

8.  A  federative  republic — adapted  to  any  extent  of 
territory,  to  every  variety  of  people  and  climate,  and  to 
indefinite  duration.  Such,  at  least,  is  the  liberal  theory 
of  our  national  and  state  organizations,  that  no  natural 
limit  can  be  assigned  to  their  growth  and  expansion — 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


255 


provided  the  people  themselves  consent.  And  hitherto, 
their  action  has  been,  on  the  whole,  sufficiently  harmo¬ 
nious  and  efficient  to  warrant  the  strongest  confidence  in 
their  stability 

9.  Prosperity — national  and  individual — utterly  un¬ 
precedented —  and  which  is,  at  this  moment,  the  envy 
and  admiration  of  the  world. 

10.  A  welcome  and  a  safe  asylum — a  permanent  and 
j  a  happy  home — for  the  injured,  persecuted,  unfortunate 

and  wretched  of  every  clime  and  of  every  race. 

11.  We  have  furnished  an  example  and  a  model  — 
which  has  already  contributed  much  to  enlighten  the 
world  in  the  theory  and  practice  of  government, — and 
which  promises  incalculable  good  to  mankind  through¬ 
out  all  succeeding  generations.  This  glorious  boon  to 
the  oppressed  and  benighted  nations  was  confidently 
anticipated  and  predicted  by  our  sagacious  and  catholic 
patriots.  God  grant  that  their  hopes  may  not  be  as  the 
dreams  of  the  visionary! 

Will  these  inestimable  blessings  be  perpetuated  amongst 
ourselves?  Will  our  union  be  preserved,  and  our  liber¬ 
ties  be  transmitted  undiminished  to  the  latest  posterity? 
These  are  startling  questions — and  occasionally  there  are 
symptoms  which  render  them  painfully  unwelcome  and 
obtrusive. 

Our  Union  may  be  dissolved.  We  may  have  a  dozen 
or  a  score  of  petty,  hostile,  rival,  jealous,  selfish,  misera¬ 
ble  republics — but  they  will  be  republics,  not  monarchies. 
I  will  not  suffer  myself  to  dread  such  a  catastrophe  as 
probable.  I  barely  admit  it  to  be  possible.  Is  there 


256 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


living  the  American  patriot  who  could  wish  to  survive 
our  national  Union — or  to  witness  the  humiliating  degra¬ 
dation  which  its  dismemberment  would  entail  upon  the 
character  and  destinies  of  his  countrymen?  Washington 
has  not  failed,  in  his  Farewell  Address,  to  indicate  the 
causes  which  might  lead  to  so  fatal  an  event,  as  well  as 
the  calamitous  consequences  which  would  inevitably  re¬ 
sult.  May  the  spirit  of  Washington  ever  preside  in  our 
councils  and  animate  the  hearts  of  all  our  people ! 

That  our  republican  forms  will  be  permanent,  I  doubt 
not — because  they  are  inseparable  from  the  fixed  habits 
of  our  people.  Their  spirit  however  may  be  utterly  per¬ 
verted  and  profaned.  And  this  is  the  great  evil  to  which 
we  are  peculiarly  liable.  We  may  retain  all  our  favourite 
names  and  modes ,  and  yet  lose  the  essential  prerogatives 
and  healthful  tone  of  celestial  liberty.  We  may  be  coz¬ 
ened  or  flattered  out  of  the  substance,  and  be  induced  to 
rejoice  in  the  empty  shadow.  The  sun  of  liberty  had 
gone  down  forever  in  Republican  Rome,  long  before  the 
conqueror  of  Gaul  and  Germany  passed  the  Rubicon. 

With  us,  a  majority  must  of  necessity  govern.  Let 
that  majority  become  ignorant,  corrupt  and  reckless — 
and  who  shall  restrain  them  from  any  measures  of  injus¬ 
tice,  violence  or  madness?  Will  they  reverence  a  paper 
constitution  which  they  can  make  or  unmake,  interpret 
or  torture  at  their  pleasure,  or  trample  in  the  dust  with 
impunity?  A  legislative  body — always  an  irresponsible 
body — countenanced,  sustained  and  impelled  by  an  exas¬ 
perated  or  infatuated  majority,  may  deliberately  con¬ 
summate  acts  and  schemes  of  high-handed  villany  and 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


257 


despotism,  which  a  Roman  Nero  or  Turkish  Sultan  would 
blush  to  perpetrate  or  to  think  of.  Washington  foresaw 
these  dangers  also,  and  he  has  pointed  out  their  only 
preventive,  and  the  only  preservative  of  our  republican 
system  in  all  its  pristine  purity,  beautiful  proportions 
and  harmonious  movements.  Intelligence,  virtue,  re¬ 
ligion — these  are  the  pillars  of  liberty’s  temple.  With¬ 
out  these,  our  republic  will  exist  only  in  name.  For 
although,  as  I  have  already  intimated,  these  may  not 
suffice  to  originate  and  establish  a  republican  govern¬ 
ment  in  countries  where  such  a  government  has  never 
been  known — yet,  without  these,  no  republican  or  free 
government  will  long  be  maintained  in  fact.  Deprived 
of  these  safeguards,  our  people  will  be  arrayed,  party 
against  party,  in  all  the  phrensy  of  malignant  and  un¬ 
controllable  passion.  Then,  no  honest  man  will  dare 
to  express  an  opinion,  or  to  appear  in  the  councils  of 
his  country.  Ten,  fifteen,  twenty  millions  of  ignorant, 
venal,  republican  citizens— bought  up,  and  goaded  on¬ 
ward  by  factious  desperadoes — may  render  existence 
more  unbearable  among  Columbia’s  free-born  sons  than 
it  now  is  or  ever  has  been  under  any  European  or 
Asiatic  tyrant. 

So  thought  Washington: — aThe  alternate  domination 
of  one  faction  over  another,  (says  he,)  sharpened  by  the 
spirit  of  revenge,  natural  to  party  dissension,  which  in 
different  ages  and  countries  has  perpetrated  the  most 
horrid  enormities,  is  itself  a  frightful  despotism;  but  this 
leads  at  length  to  a  more  formal  and  permanent  des¬ 
potism.” 

vol.  ni. — IT 


258 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


Let  the  warning  voice  of  our  sainted  Washington  this 
day  be  heard  with  filial  reverence  throughout  these,  at 
present,  peaceful,  happy  and  United  States.  Yes,  we  are 
yet  peaceful  and  united.  The  demon  of  party  strife  has 
raged — is  raging — and  may  rage  hereafter — but  Wash¬ 
ington  has  taught  us  how  to  avert  its  desolating  fury 
and  to  control  its  unhallowed  ambition.  If  the  paternal 
counsels  of  Washington  shall  be  sacredly  regarded,  we 
shall  be  a  moral,  enlightened,  religious,  free,  united  and 
happy  people  to  the  end  of  time.  And  all  nations  will 
he  eager  and  proud  to  follow  our  example,  to  imitate  our 
virtues,  to  adopt  our  institutions — and  will  bless  God 
that  Washington  has  lived,  not  for  America  only,  but 
for  the  universe  and  for  eternity. 

The  age  of  Washington  is  the  classic  age  of  American 
history.  It  is  a  resplendent,  a  glorious,  a  golden  age. 
The  character  of  Washington  may,  without  even  the 
semblance  of  hyperbole,  be  pronounced  in  a  single  word 
—  Perfection!  So  far,  at  least,  as  perfection  may  be 
justly  predicated  of  any  mere  mortal  man. 

Among  the  great  personages  whom  mankind  have  de¬ 
lighted  to  honour,  not  one  can  be  designated  as  worthy 
of  being  adjudged  his  peer.  How  lovely  and  docile  and 
dutiful  in  childhood — how  nobly  good  and  brave  in  youth 
and  manhood — how  wise,  magnanimous,  philanthropic, 
dignified,  unostentatious,  pure  and  single-hearted  in  all 
his  unparalleled  prosperity,  and  through  every  scene  of 
his  wonderful  career! 

In  all  the  walks  and  relations  of  private  and  domestic 
life  he  shone  with  a  beauty  and  splendour  peculiarly  his 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


259 


own.  He  was  eminently  rich  in  good  works — and  envy 
dared  not  hate  or  revile  him.  He  was  the  able,  judicious 
and  unwearied  advocate  of  every  useful  enterprise  and 
institution — of  religion,  order,  morals,  science  and  uni¬ 
versal  education. 

He  was  an  American  in  all  his  feelings,  sentiments  and 
policy.  He  belonged  to  no  party — but  to  his  country. 
Nor  was  his  patriotism  selfish  or  exclusive.  His  benevo¬ 
lence  extended  to  the  whole  family  of  mankind.  Though 
sternly  just  in  all  his  intercourse  with  foreign  nations — 
he  exacted  nothing  which  he  was  not  heartily  disposed 
to  reciprocate.  He  observed  the  strictest  neutrality  to¬ 
wards  the  European  belligerents,  and  laboured  to  con¬ 
vince  his  fellow-citizens  and  the  world  that  this  was  and 
ever  must  be  the  genuine  policy  of  the  American  govern¬ 
ment. 

In  him  was  no  blemish  which  requires  the  oblivious 
mantle  of  charity  from  the  partial  biographer  or  from  a 
grateful  posterity.  His  entire  life,  from  the  cradle  to  the 
grave,  is  before  the  world — and  it  may  boldly  challenge 
the  severest  scrutiny. 

His  is  a  life  to  be  studied,  not  merely  by  the  warrior, 
the  politician,  the  statesman,  the  philosopher — but  by 
the  humblest  citizen  of  the  republic.  He  possessed  vir¬ 
tues  and  excellencies  which  all  may  imitate — though,  in 
majesty  and  grandeur,  none  may  ever  approach  him. 

He  was  born  in  humble  obscurity— but  in  him  were 
blended  all  the  elements  which  will  ever  insure  pre¬ 
eminence  under  any  circumstances.  He  would  have 
been  great  and  good — had  the  revolution,  which  made 


260 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


him  the  greatest  and  the  best,  never  occurred.  He  would 
have  been,  as  he  was,  the  most  skilful,  scientific  and  suc¬ 
cessful  farmer  in  Virginia.  And  he  would  have  been,  as 
he  was,  respected,  beloved  and  honoured  by  all  his  fellow- 
citizens.  It  seems  ever  to  have  been  a  maxim  with  him, 
that  there  is  nothing  worth  doing  at  all  which  is  not 
worth  doing  well.  And  another,  not  less  important,  that 
time  is  invaluable  and  that  every  moment  must  be  im¬ 
proved.  Whatever  he  did,  therefore,  was  well  done — 
and  he  never  passed  an  idle  or  unprofitable  hour.  He 
resolved,  while  yet  poor,  to  be  independent — that  he 
might  be  honest  and  useful.  He  therefore  applied  him¬ 
self  diligently  to  business,  and  to  the  acquisition  of  such 
knowledge  as  would  insure  him  success  and  reputation. 
He  was  industrious  and  economical,  not  to  amass  wealth 
for  its  own  sake,  but  that  he  might  be  virtuous,  just  and 
generous.  It  was  this  truly  noble  spirit  of  honourable 
independence,  cherished  from  early  youth,  which  pre¬ 
served  him  from  pecuniary  embarrassment  throughout 
the  long  period  of  his  public  services,  and  which  enabled 
him  to  decline  all  pecuniary  remuneration  from  his  grate¬ 
ful  country — and  finally  to  manifest  a  princely  hospitality 
and  munificence,  without  a  particle  of  princely  parade, 
extravagance  or  ostentation. 

Washington  never  flattered  the  great  nor  courted  the 
multitude.  He  never  solicited  office.  He  was  ever 
ready  to  serve  his  country,  but  never  sought  to  govern 
it.  He  never  resorted  to  artifice,  intrigue  or  manage¬ 
ment  for  any  selfish  purpose  whatever.  If  he  was 

ambitious,  it  wras  to  deserve  the  esteem  of  the  wise 
✓ 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


261 


and  the  good — not  to  acquire  power,  wealth,  honour  or 
fame. 

With  him  character — moral  character — was  every¬ 
thing  from  the  beginning.  He  always  acted  from  prin¬ 
ciple — from  the  highest,  holiest  religious  principle.  And 
by  the  force  of  character,  he  rose  in  the  confidence,  ad¬ 
miration  and  affections  of  his  countrymen.  Neither 
birth,  nor  fortune,  nor  family  alliances  contributed,  in 

the  least,  to  his  exaltation.  It  was  all  the  result  of  his 

* 

own  good  conduct,  sound  sense,  indefatigable  diligence, 
uniform  kindness,  invincible  integrity,  devoted  patriot¬ 
ism,  moral  courage,  Christian  magnanimity — and  of  that 
determined  resolution,  which  is  ever  the  attribute  of 
superior  genius  and  real  greatness,  to  become  equal  to 
every  occasion,  emergency  and  enterprise  which  he  was 
providentially  summoned  to  encounter  or  to  direct. 

There  have  been  many  ambitious  Caesars — many  illus¬ 
trious  patriots — many  talented  demagogues — many  splen¬ 
did  traitors — whose  glory  and  whose  infamy  are  recorded 
in  the  everlasting  page  of  history.  Our  country  has  pro¬ 
duced  a  noble  band  of  heroic  warriors  and  gifted  sages 
and  accomplished  statesmen- — but,  hitherto,  no  Caesar, 
and  but  one  Arnold. 

Our  world  has  produced  but  one  Washington. 


Note  — The  foregoing  Address,  though  prepared  on  short  notice, 
and  delivered  when  he  was  somewhat  unwell,  we  have  ever  regarded 
as  one  of  the  author’s  ablest  efforts.  It  was  uttered  in  the  presence 
of  a  large  and  appreciative  audience,  the  very  elite  of  Nashville,  and 
his  whole  manner  in  its  delivery  was  one  of  glowing  eloquence — in¬ 
spired  by  the  greatness  of  his  subject  and  the  greatness  of  the  occa¬ 
sion,  both  of  which  he  deeply  felt.  As  stated  in  Sprague’s  Annals, 


262 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


when  he  had  been  speaking  nearly  an  hour,  and  the  bells  rang  foi 
dinner,  a  prominent  gentleman  of  the  city,  and  withal  a  special  friend 
and  admirer  of  the  Doctor,  concluded  to  give  him  a  gentle  hint  of  the 
lapse  of  time,  which  was  sometimes  forgotten  in  the  ardour  of  his 
public  discourses.  Occupying  a  seat  immediately  in  front,  he  pulled 
out  his  watch  and  held  it  up  until  it  caught  the  speaker’s  eye.  Dr. 
Lindsley,  as  soon  as  he  caught  a  view  of  the  friendly  monitor,  paused 
for  an  instant ;  then  raising  himself  up  in  an  attitude  of  indescribable 
majesty,  he  said : — “  Sir,  this  is  an  occasion  which  comes  but  once  in 
a  hundred  years,  and  the  man  who  cannot  afford  to  lose  his  dinner, 
to-day,  is  no  patriot.”  After  a  spontaneous  thrill  of  applause  through 
the  audience,  he  resumed  his  unfinished  sentence,  and  went  on  with  the 
discourse,  which  was  heard  with  increasing  delight  to  the  close.  W e 
remember  well  how  it  closed.  It  was  a  rare  thing  for  him  to  quote  a 
line  of  poetry :  and  that  which  he  used  on  this  occasion  never  appeared 
with  the  printed  Address.  But  we  find  it  in  the  manuscript  copy,  and 
we  vividly  recall  the  effect  upon  his  audience,  when,  after  pronouncing 
the  words,  “Our  world  has  produced  but  one  Washington,”  he  repeated 
the  following  lines,  attributed  to  Byron : — 

“Where  may  the  wearied  eye  repose 
When  gazing  on  the  great; 

Where  neither  guilty  glory  glows 
Nor  despicable  hate? 

Yes — one — the  first — the  last — the  best, 

The  Cincinnatus  of  the  West, 

Whom  envy  dared  not  hate, 

Bequeathed  the  name  of  Washington — 

To  make  man  blush,  there  was  but  one.” — [Ed. 


AMERICAN  DEMOCRACY. 


[NASHVILLE,  OCTOBER  5,  1842.] 


X 


AMERICAN  DEMOCRACY. 


IN  FIVE  PARTS. 


PART  FIRST. 

AN  ADDRESS  TO  FARMERS  AND  MECHANICS.* 

The  three  most  important  and  useful  classes  of  men 
in  our  world,  are  Mechanics,  Farmers  and  Schoolmas¬ 
ters.  These  are  equally  essential  and  indispensable  in 
every  stage  and  condition  of  civilized  society.  They 
would  have  existed  and  been  honoured  in  Paradise,  had 
the  first  parents  of  the  human  race  never  lost  their  pri¬ 
meval  rectitude  and  glory.  Of  the  three,  indeed,  the 
mechanic  may  justly  claim  priority  in  the  order  of  time, 
if  not  pre-eminence  in  dignity  and  utilitarian  importance. 
If  the  Mosaic  history  be  true — and  I  accept  it  literally— 
Adam  must  have  been  a  mechanic  before  he  became  a 
gardener  or  a  husbandman.  He  could  neither  dig  nor 
plant,  nor  trim  his  shrubbery,  nor  gather  in  his  fruits, 
nor  grind  his  corn,  nor  bake  his  bread,  without  some 
rude  implements  which  required  mechanical  skill  in  the 
construction.  The  very  first  occupation,  therefore,  of  the 
first  man  must  have  been  strictly  mechanical.  And  from 
the  commencement  of  human  labour  to  the  present  day, 


*  Delivered  at  Nashville,  October  5,  1842. 


(265) 


266 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


every  species  of  industry  has  been,  and  still  is,  carried  on 
by  mechanical  contrivances  of  some  kind.  You  behold  the 
evidences  of  this  fact  in  the  wigwam,  the  canoe,  the  gro¬ 
tesque  habiliments,  the  fishing  tackle,  the  hunting  appa¬ 
ratus,  the  martial  equipments  of  the  savage,  as  well  as 
in  every  cottage,  mansion,  workshop  and  cultivated  field 
of  civilized  man  upon  our  globe. 

Every  operation  of  the  farmer,  even  the  simplest  and 
most  humble,  is  effected  by  mechanical  instrumentality. 
For  example Contemplate  a  good  orthodox  loaf  of 
bread;  and  think  of  the  plough  and  harrow  and  horse- 
gear  and  sickle  and  wagon  and  mill,  and  all  the  other 
ingenious  handicraft  devices  required  to  rear  and  cleanse 
and  preserve  the  wheat,  and  to  convert  it  into  one  of  the 
most  common  and  grateful  necessaries  of  life:  and  then 
deem  lightly  of  mechanics,  if  you  can.  No  state  of  social 
man  can  be  found  so  barbarous  or  degraded  as  not  to 
abound  in  various  mechanical  arts;  even  where  agricul¬ 
ture  itself  is  unknown  or  not  extensively  practised. 
Truly,  “man  is  a  tool-making  animal,”  as  Franklin  very 
sagaciously  defined  him. 

4 

My  worthy  friends,  the  mechanics,  will  perceive  that 
I  claim  for  them  an  illustrious  origin  and  ancestry:  and 
that,  in  antiquity  and  usefulness,  I  rank  them  second  to 
none  of  the  self-constituted,  mushroom,  upstart  nobility 
of  our  world.  Nor  would  they  ever  have  been  jostled 
from  their  high  and  palmy  estate,  had  man  continued 
to  maintain  his  primitive  innocence.  Then,  indeed,  the 
mechanic,  the  farmer  and  the  schoolmaster  would  have 
inherited  the  earth,  with  all  its  riches  and  honours. 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


267 


There  would  scarcely  have  been  occasion  for  any  other 
business  or  pursuit.  Adam  was  himself  both  mechanic 
and  farmer  or  gardener,  before  he  was  banished  from 
Eden.  And  he  would  have  been  the  first  schoolmaster, 
had  he  remained  there  a  little  longer — as  he  was  in  fact 
soon  after  that  disastrous  event.  Unless  the  pleasant 
task  of  teaching  “the  young  idea  how  to  shoot,”  de¬ 
volved,  in  the  first  instance  and  for  a  brief  season,  upon 
his  wife. 

But  how  has  the  whole  aspect  of  affairs  been  changed 
and  marred  and  mutilated  by  the  fall? — which  “brought 
death  into  the  world,  and  all  our  wo!”  Ever  since  that 
fatal  catastrophe,  the  very  employments  which  were  orig¬ 
inally  designed  to  engross  the  human  faculties,  and  to 
dignify  even  angelic  purity  and  intelligence,  have  sunk 
into  comparative  disrepute,  and  been  forced  to  yield  the 
palm  to  other  pursuits  and  professions,  which  are  the 
offspring  of  sin  and  rebellion.  The  labouring  farmer, 
the  industrious  mechanic,  the  starving  schoolmaster: — 
alas,  what  sorry  creatures  they  are  in  the  world’s  estima¬ 
tion  !  And  pray,  who  are  now  the  honourable,  the  great, 
the  wise,  the  famous,  the  proud,  the  arrogant,  the  power¬ 
ful,  the  mighty?  Why,  to  be  sure,  legitimate  kings  and 
dukes  and  lords;  fortunate  statesmen  and  politicians  and 
warriors  and  jurists  and  divines  and  physicians  and 
lawyers  and  rulers  of  all  sorts;  long-pursed  bankers, 
merchants,  speculators,  planters,  manufacturers,  and  the 
successful  votaries  of  mammon  of  every  character  and 
complexion.  All  of  whom  flourish  and  luxuriate  and 
riot  upon  the  spoils  and  deformities  and  ruin  which  sin 


268 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


has  everywhere  created  and  perpetuated.  Were  there 
no  crime,  no  disease,  no  misery,  no  death  in  the  world; 
the  lawyer,  the  parson,  the  doctor,  the  politician,  the 
judge,  uet  id  genus  omne'—  for  their  name  is  legion — 
would  be  compelled  to  learn  other  trades,  or  to  seek  a 
residence  in  some  more  congenial  planet.  But,  now, 
these  are  vastly  important  personages.  They  monopo¬ 
lize  the  learned  professions — the  army,  the  navy,  the 
church  and  the  state.  And  in  order  to  insure  a  reason¬ 
able  supply  of  the  necessary  evil,  our  country  is  filled 
with  colleges  and  professional  seminaries,  where  thou¬ 
sands  of  hopeful  republicans  are  being  qualified  to  tread 
upon  the  necks  and  to  lead  by  the  nose,  our  credulous 
farmers  and  mechanics. 

As  for  the  schoolmasters:  their  case  is  as  hopeless  as 
their  office  is  thankless.  By  common  consent,  they  are 
doomed  to  wear  their  lives  out  in  drudgery,  obscurity 
and  contempt.  They  have  no  status ,  as  the  Scotch 
phrase  it,  south  of  “  Mason  and  Dixon’s  line.”  They 
must  possess  a  large  measure  of  Christian  benevolence, 
or  stoical  philosophy,  or  asinine  stolidity,  or  vulgar  ob¬ 
tuseness,  to  enable  them  thus  to  do  penance  and  to  suffer 
martyrdom  by  the  year,  without  sympathy,  reward,  or 
prospective  saintship.  Now  and  then,  a  working  farmer, 
and  occasionally  a  working  mechanic,  do  rise  above  their 
natural  or  rather  conventional  mediocrity,  and  stand 
erect  among  the  honourable  of  the  land.  But  who  ever 
saw — who  expects  to  see — a  schoolmaster  among  the 
sages  and  legislators  and  governors  of  his  country?  Who 
ever  fancied  that  a  schoolmaster  was  fit  to  be  sent  to 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


269 


Congress  or  to  a  foreign  court?  Or  even  to  be  made  a 
constable,  or  justice  of  the  peace,  or  militia  captain,  or 
county  clerk?  And  when,  or  where,  throughout  the 
chivalrous  sunny  South,  was  a  schoolmaster  ever  yet 
known  to  amass  a  fortune — by  his  own  proper  voca¬ 
tion  ? 

These  things  ought  not  so  to  be.  They  result  from 
a  palpable  violation  of  the  original  constitution — the 
Great  Bill  of  Rights — that  Magna  Cliarta — granted  by 
Heaven  at  the  very  first  organization  of  human  society. 
It  is  high  time  to  recur  once  more  (as  politicians  say)  to 
first  principles;  to  read  the  constitution  aright  according 
to  the  letter;  and  to  interpret  it  agreeably  to  common 
sense  and  sound  logic.  Just  in  proportion  as  we  can  get 
back  to  the  good  old  doctrines  which  were  promulgated, 
and  to  the  usages  which  obtained,  at  the  period  when 
the  constitution  was  established  for  the  equitable  gov¬ 
ernment  and  well-being  of  our  first  parents  in  Paradise, 
in  the  same  degree  and  to  the  same  extent,  will  all  these 
anomalous  obliquities  disappear:  and  thus  shall  we  be¬ 
hold  the  mechanic,  the  farmer,  and  even  the  schoolmas¬ 
ter,  gradually  elevated  to  their  pristine  rank  and  rightful 
dignity.  A  consummation  most  devoutly  to  be  wished— 
by  all  the  parties  concerned!  Virtue,  intelligence  and 
industry  were  then  the  order  of  the  day:  and  these 
must  reappear,  in  all  their  native  beauty,  if  the  labour¬ 
ing  classes,  here  or  elsewhere,  would  regain  their  lost 
patrimony,  and  reascend  the  throne  from  which  they 
have  been  so  unceremoniously  hurled. 

Here  I  may  add,  that  the  poor  despised  schoolmaster 


270 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


is  the  natural,  and  might  become  the  most  efficient,  ally 
of  the  farmer  and  the  mechanic.  If  the  three  could  prop¬ 
erly  understand  each  other  and  mutually  co-operate  in 
the  grand  work  of  reform,  they  might  and  would  soon 
emerge  from  the  “  slough  of  Despond,”  and  nobly  triumph 
over  all  the  humiliating  difficulties  of  their  unlucky  posi¬ 
tion.  They  would  speedily  wrest  the  sceptre  from  the 
usurpers  grasp;  and  compel  their  gentle  masters,  “the 
lords  temporal  and  spiritual,”  to  yield  to  their  betters, 
and  to  mind  their  own  proper  works— -which,  by-the-by, 
would  then  be  at  least  sufficiently  harmless  and  unen¬ 
viable.  Our  hardy  workingmen  would  learn,  and  there¬ 
fore  be  able  to  teach,  the  proud  lesson  of  the  great  poet 
of  Democracy,  that: 

“  The  rank  is  but  the  guinea  stamp, 

The  man’s  the  goud  for  a’  that.” 

“The  honest  man,  though  e’er  sae  poor, 

Is  king  o’  men  for  a’  that.” — (Burns.) 

Mechanics  and  farmers  have  hitherto  supposed  that 
the  least  possible  amount  of  intellectual  discipline  and 
furniture  would  suffice  for  them.  This  is  a  radical  and 
ruinous  heresy.  They  must  aspire  to  the  supremacy  in 
the  vast  empire  of  mind,  if  they  would  attain  the  con¬ 
sideration  which  they  covet.  Ignorance  and  knowledge 
are  always  relative  terms.  What  would  pass  for  learn¬ 
ing  in  one  age  or  country,  may  be  gross  ignorance  in 
another.  If  mechanics  and  farmers  would  be  as  influ¬ 
ential  and  respectable  as  lawyers,  they  must  become 
equally  intelligent  and  learned.  And  why  should  they 
not?  They  have  leisure  enough,  and  talent  enough,  and 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


271 


money  enough.  It  is  their  own  fault  if  they  neglect  the 
means  at  their  command.  The  farmers  and  mechanics 
in  Tennessee  have  property  enough  among  them,  as  a 
body,  to  provide  for  the  education  of  all  their  children, 
as  thoroughly  as  if  all  were  designed  to  be  gentlemen 
lawyers  or  physicians.  How — in  what  fashion — this 
may  he  accomplished,  I  am  ready  to  show  whenever  the 
parties  most  interested  shall  be  disposed  to  give  me  a 
hearing.* 

The  great  mass  of  the  American  people  are,  and  ever 
must  be,  in  the  strictest  sense  of  the  term,  labourers.  In 
the  country,  these  will  generally  be  farmers:  —  in  our 
towns,  chiefly  mechanics.  Schoolmasters  are,  or  ought 
to  be,  everywhere — in  both  city  and  country.  And  if 
the  supply  were  equal  to  the  demand  or  to  the  actual 
wants  of  the  people,  their  number  would  greatly  exceed 
that  of  the  mechanics/)* 


*  Should  the  question  here  be  put,  in  its  usual  naked,  isolated, 
sneering  form :  What !  shall  a  young  farmer  or  mechanic  learn  Greek 
and  Logic,  Philosophy  and  Mathematics  ?  I  answer,  in  the  same 
dogged  tone  and  spirit:  Yes,  to  be  sure;  and  if  for  no  other  end,  that 
he  may  be  able  to  break  a  lance  with  the  flippant  young  lawyer,  who 
knows  nothing  of  the  one  or  the  other : — though  he  may  affect  an 
acquaintance  with  the  whole  cyclopmdia  of  science,  because  he  has 
lounged  about  a  something ,  called  a  college,  two  or  three  months,  and 
heard  of  phrenology,  and  had  his  own  knowledge-box  measured  secun¬ 
dum  artem;  and  because,  moreover,  he  is  permitted  by  democratic 
courtesy  to  rejoice  in  the  potential  suffix  of  an  Esq.  to  his  name  !  Be¬ 
sides,  better  read  Homer  and  Locke  and  Newton,  than  to  waste  time, 
money  and  health  at  the  grog-shop  and  the  race-course. 

f  The  number  of  white  persons  in  Tennessee,  over  twenty  years 
old,  who  could  not  write  or  read,  according  to  the  census  of  1840,  was 
58,531 ;  or  one  in  eleven  of  the  white  population.  In  North  Caro¬ 
lina,  it  was  as  one  in  seven.  In  the  Union,  the  number  was  584,541. 


272 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


Schoolmasters  may  be  distributed  into  four  classes. 

1.  B,  C-darians.  Teachers  of  common  or  primary 
schools. 

2.  Hie,  HceCy  Hoc-ers.  Otherwise,  Verbalists  or  Grinders . 
Teachers  of  the  accidence  in  grammar  schools  and  acade¬ 
mies.  Graduates  fresh  from  college,  with  diplomas  in 
barbarous  Latin,  which  they  cannot  construe;  and  the 
meaning  of  which  the  subscribing  and  attesting  curatores 
eruditissimi  might  be  puzzled  to  divine.  These,  if  clever, 
seldom  remain  more  than  a  year  or  two  at  the  business 
—  barely  long  enough  to  discover  their  own  incompe¬ 
tency,  and  to  secure  the  means  to  improve  their  con¬ 
dition. 

3.  Pedants.  Thoroughbred  Pedagogues — and  heartily 
devoted  to  their  vocation. — Head -masters  of  the  great 
schools.  Teachers  of  the  higher  forms  in  the  last,  and 
of  the  lower  classes  in  colleges.  Always  ready  with  bits 
and  scraps  of  Greek  and  Latin  to  astound  “the  profane 
vulgar,”  and  to  horrify  the  drawing-room  exquisite. 
Lily,  Busby,  Bentley,  Parr,  were  gigantic  specimens  of 
this  goodly  order.  Rarities  in  our  country  at  present. 
In  their  stead,  we  have  plenty  of  Greeldings ,  smatterers, 
and  pretenders  to  a  thousand  novel,  cheap,  short  and 
easy  methods  of  acquiring  languages — whether  dead  or 
living. 

4.  Dogmatists.  Professors  and  Lecturers,  of  every 
name  and  degree :  who  deliver  their  dicta  or  prelec¬ 
tions  ex  cathedra  to  passive  and  silent,  if  not  always  to 
docile,  attentive  and  delighted  auditories.  They  are 
never  contradicted  or  opposed.  The  field  is  their  own. 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  273 

They  combat  mere  shadows,  or  men  of  straw,  or  ficti¬ 
tious  antagonists, — created  for  the  display  of  tact  or 
talent,  and  for  an  easy  triumph.  They  say  what  they 
please.  Are  accustomed  to  deferential  respect  from  their 
pupils,  and  perhaps  to  the  flattery  and  admiration  of 
their  associates.  They  may  be  honest  in  their  inquiries, 
profound  in  their  researches,  confident  in  the  truth  and 
value  of  their  theories  and  positions,  and  therefore  imag¬ 
ine  themselves  free  from  illiberal  bias,  prejudice  or  influ¬ 
ence.  Hence  it  is  quite  natural  that  they  should  assume 
a  tone  and  manner  more  or  less  dogmatical  and  magis¬ 
terial;  and  that  they  should  66  think  of  themselves  more 
highly  than  they  ought  to  think.”  (Rom.  xii.  3.) 

Farmers.  By  this  term,  I  designate  all  free  persons 
who  work  in  the  field — who  plough  and  sow  and  reap 
with  their  own  hands — who  literally  cultivate  and  till 
the  land,  which  they  occupy  either  as  owners  or  as  ten¬ 
ants,  or  who  labour  for  wages. 

Mechanics.  All  free  persons  who  work  in  the  shop 
— operatives  in  manufactories— apprentices  and  journey¬ 
men;  not  merely  or  chiefly,  great  proprietors  of  either 
land,  slaves  or  manufacturing  capital. 

Farmers,  Mechanics,  Schoolmasters,  therefore,  embrace 
or  comprehend  the  most  ancient,  the  most  useful  and  the 
most  laborious  vocations.  Any  plan  or  system  devised 
or  designed  for  the  benefit  of  the  real  people,  must  have 
a  principal  reference  to  these;  or  it  would  be  partial,  im¬ 
perfect  and  delusive.  This  position  will  not  be  disputed, 
so  far  as  the  farmers  and  mechanics  are  concerned — 
whatever  may  be  thought  of  the  schoolmasters.  Let  the 
VOL.  hi. — 18 


274 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


reader,  then,  if  he  please,  reject  the  schoolmaster,  and 
take  for  granted  that  when  we  hereafter  speak  of  the 
people,  we  mean  the  farmer  and  mechanic. 

Whether  a  government  can  ever  judiciously  interfere 
with  the  concerns  of  human  industry,  or  so  interfere  as 
not  to  do  more  harm  than  good,  is  still  an  open,  though 
vexed  cpaestion,  in  the  halls  of  legislation  and  in  the  cabi¬ 
nets  of  statesmen.  As  involving  a  general  principle,  and 
in  a  qualified  sense,  it  has  long  since  been  determined  in 
the  negative  by  the  great  masters  in  the  schools  of  Politi¬ 
cal  Economy.  With  what  reason,  and  to  what  extent, 
we  shall  see  in  the  sequel. 

As  our  own  government  is  but  the  creature  of  the  peo¬ 
ple,  and  can  by  them  be  made  to  assume  any  character 
or  to  adopt  any  measures, — it  is  evident  that  the  people 
have  the  power  to  effect  through  its  agency  whatever 
they  please.  The  first  question  then  might  be  what  the 
people  choose  to  demand  of  their  government — or  rather 
what  they  ordain  to  be  a  government.  Hence, 

1.  Let  us  consider  or  inquire  what  the  people  can  do 
to  improve  or  ameliorate  the  government. 

2.  What  the  government  can  and  ought  to  do  for  the 
people. 

3.  What  the  people  can  do  for  themselves,  without 
regard  to  the  government. 

An  elaborate  or  satisfactory  reply  to  either  of  these 
inquiries,  would  necessarily  lead  to  a  vastly  wider  range 
of  discussion  than  will  be  allowable  on  the  present  occa¬ 
sion.  Many  topics  must  be  omitted  or  barely  hinted  at : 
while  others  may  receive  a  more  prominent  notice  than 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  275 


is  strictly  required  by  the  argument.  It  is  obvious,  too, 
that  a  portion  of  debatable  ground  lies  in  the  way:  and 
it  may  not  be  easy  to  get  over  it  or  around  it  without 
giving  offence.  I  shall  probably  say  some  things  which 
will  not  be  palatable  to  either  Whig  or  Democrat.'  My 
purpose,  however,  is  not  to  please,  nor  to  displease,  the 
one  or  the  other.  If  truth  and  reason  be  in  my  speech — 
good :  if  not,  let  it  pass  unheeded.  I  address  the  farmer 
and  mechanic,  in  their  proper  character,  as  men  and 
citizens.  And  to  their  honest  verdict,  as  my  peers  and 
judges.  I  cheerfully  submit.  With  partisan  whiggery  or 
democracy  I  have  no  sympathy  or  fellowship.  And  I 
equally  spurn  the  humbuggery  and  selfishness  of  both. 
The  terms,  whig  and  democrat ,  mean  precisely  the  same 
thing,  when  used  to  gain  favour  with  the  people. 

Having  thus  “  defined  my  position,”  I  proceed,  after 
my  own  irregular  fashion,  to  respond  to  inquiry  No.  1. 
What  can  the  people  do  for  the  government? 

“The  people  are  prone  to  expect  too  much  of  the  gov¬ 
ernment” — it  has  been  proclaimed  in  high  quarters/11  No 
doubt,  they  may  rely  too  much  on  the  action  of  govern¬ 
ment,  and  expect  more  than  any  government  can  bestow. 
Men  are  very  prone,  when  affairs  go  wrong,  or  when  they 
are  not  as  prosperous  as  they  wish  to  be,  to  clamour 
against  the  government,  or  to  call  on  the  government  for 
aid  and  relief.  They  ought,  in  most  cases,  to  remember 
the  advice  of  Hercules  to  the  wagoner,  and  to  apply 

*  “The  people  are  prone  to  expect  too  much  of  the  government. — 
The  government  has  enough  to  do  to  take  care  of  itself.  ” — ( Martin 
Van  Buren.) 


27G 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


their  own  shoulders  vigorously  to  the  wheel,  in  the  first 
instance.  Still  the  government  is  bound,  in  all  its  legis¬ 
lative  enactments  and  provisions,  to  seek  the  well-being 
of  the  people — both  directly  and  indirectly. 

In  our  country,  hajipily,  the  government  is  the  mere 
creature  or  servant  of  the  people— designed  solely  and 
exclusively  for  their  benefit.  Such,  at  least,  it  is  in 
theory — and  in  the  books.  The  government  cannot 
have  an  interest  or  object  or  aim,  distinct  from  that 
of  the  people.  The  interest  of  both  is  identical.  It  is 
one  and  the  same — at  all  times  and  under  all  circum¬ 
stances.  A  popular  government,  opposed  to  the  will  or 
weal  of  the  people,  would  be  a  contradiction  in  terms. 
It  would  be  a  monstrous  anomaly— the  very  wrorst  spe¬ 
cies  of  disguised  tyranny — of  arbitrary,  reckless  and 
remorseless  despotism. 

Public  offices  were  instituted  for  the  welfare  of  the 
people;  and  not  for  the  emolument  of  particular  incum¬ 
bents.  No  office  was  ever  constitutionally  created  or 
intended  as  a  reward  for  the  past  services  of  any  man — 
much  less  for  the  venal  remuneration  of  mere  party  ser¬ 
vices.  Washington  himself  was  not  made  President,  as 
a  reward,  or  even  grateful  acknowledgment,  for  his  glo¬ 
rious  military  achievements.  He  was  elected  because  he 
had  exhibited  to  his  country  ample  evidence  of  superior 
qualifications  for  that  exalted  station.  Because  both  his 
ability  and  integrity  were  unquestioned  and  far  above 
suspicion.  And  because  it  was  universally  believed  that 
he  would  prove  a  better  chief  magistrate  than  any  other 
citizen  of  the  republic.  The  country — the  whole  people 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


277 


— the  entire  nation — with  one  voice,  sought  him :  not  he 
the  office. 

In  regard  to  every  election  and  to  every  official  ap¬ 
pointment,  the  grand  inquiry  should  be:  who  will  best 
discharge  the  duties  of  such  office  or  appointment?  Not, 
who  most  needs  the  office  to  live  by — nor  who  most 
eagerly  seeks  or  covets  it — nor  who  may  have  mani¬ 
fested  the  most  skilful  electioneering  tactics,  or  may 
have  been  the  most  efficient  political  agitator  or  parti¬ 
san — nor  who  may  most  loudly  trumpet  his  own  merits 
from  the  stump  or  at  the  hustings? 

Men  who  boast  of  their  own  patriotism  and  devotion 
to  the  people,  are  not  always  the  most  disinterested  or 
capable  or  honest.  In  fact,  such  demagogues  are  seldom 
to  be  trusted  in  any  form  or  degree.  They  are  usually 
the  most  arrant  rogues  in  the  community,  however  spe¬ 
cious  and  imposing  they  may  appear  while  courting  the 
popular  favour. 

In  general,  too,  men  who  run  after  office— who  intrigue 
for  it — who  besiege  the  executive  mansion,  or  beset  the 
lobbies  of  our  legislative  chambers,  or  the  private  lodg¬ 
ings  of  the  members,  in  order  to  get  office— are  most  un¬ 
worthy  of  confidence.  They  ought  to  be  repulsed;  and 
sent  home  to  the  cornfield,  or  off  to  Texas.  Your  gen¬ 
teel  applicants  for  office  are  the  veriest  bores,  loafers, 
idlers,  exquisites,  gamblers,  blacklegs,  roues ,  profligates, 
knaves,  swindlers,  bullies,  desperadoes,  braggarts,  char¬ 
latans— in  the  whole  world.  And  the  worst  of  them, 
the  most  impudent,  dashing  and  importunate,  are  always 
the  most  successful.  They  worried  one  old  hero  Presi- 


278 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


dent  [Jackson]  all  but  to  death,  and  they  killed  another 
outright  [Harrison.]  None  but  a  stoic  or  “ magician”  or 
an  “  abstraction  ”  could  endure  or  withstand  their  inces¬ 
sant  battery.  Such  fellows  ought  to  be  consigned  forth¬ 
with  to  the  penitentiary  or  treadmill. 

Sterling  merit  is  ever  modest,  retiring  and  unobtru¬ 
sive.  It  must  be  searched  for,  as  a  hidden  treasure- — 
as  a  diamond  in  the  quarry.  It  will  seldom  be  found 
among  the  class  known  as  office -hunters.  Our  credu¬ 
lous  farmers  and  mechanics  are  continually  mystified 
and  gulled  by  the  self- constituted  guardians  of  their 
rights — who  come  before  them  with  crafty  speech  and 
hollow  professions,  as  the  humble  candidates  for  their 
suffrages.  It  would  be  curiously  edifying,  just  to  follow 
out  one  of  these  “  friends  of  the  people” — from  his  first 
busy  canvass  among  the  log -cabins,  cottages,  shanties, 
smitheries,  barbacues  and  doggeries  of  his  rural  district 
—  through  each  successive  gradation  of  his  upward 
career — until  he  is  firmly  seated  in  the  national  Senate, 
or  upon  the  judicial  Bench,  or  in  the  metropolitan  Cabi¬ 
net,  or  near  a  foreign  Court:  and  to  ask,  what  he  then 
cares  for  the  dear ,  ragged,  clownish,  hard-handed,  rough- 
spoken  quondam  constituents,  who  once  proudly  hailed 
him  as  their  champion,  and  caressed  him  as  a  brother? 

He  was,  some  ten  or  twenty  years  ago,  your  boon 
companion — always  ready  to  chat  with  you,  to  walk 
and  work  with  you,  to  “ride  and  tie”  with  you- — would 
praise  the  good  wife  and  kiss  the  sweet  little  bairns — 
call  you  by  your  proper  names,  right  glad  to  see  you, 
give  you  a  hearty  shake  of  the  hand — eat  your  “bacon 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  279 

and  greens” — drink  a  “horn,”  and  get  gloriously  social 
and  generous  at  your  expense — sing  songs,  tell  stories, 
crack  jokes,  and  all  “that  sort  of  thing” — until  he  fairly 
stole  away  your  hearts,  and  enlisted  you  in  his  service. 
Look  at  him  now — in  the  stately  coach  or  lordly  man¬ 
sion — with  all  the  pride,  pomp  and  circumstance,  with 
all  the  parade,  trappings  and  insignia  of  high  official 
rank  and  republican  dignity.  What  is  the  manner  of 
his  greeting?  How  condescendingly  gracious,  and  studi¬ 
ously  urbane,  and  formally  polite,  and  exclusively  con¬ 
servative  !  What  a  courtly  air  and  presence !  How 
punctilious  and  exacting  in  modish  etiquette  and  cere¬ 
mony!  How  awfully  imposing  in  his  whole  carriage 
and  bearing!  How  prince-like  and  prompt  in  repelling 
every  unseemly  familiarity  and  unseasonable  approach! 
What  accommodating  faculties  of  vision,  memory  and 
recognition,  has  not  he  acquired?  With  what  ineffable 
coolness  and  self-complacency  he  will  cut  you — when¬ 
ever  he  meets  you  off  your  own  ground,  or  within  the 
“charmed  circle”  of  his  precious  nobility!  Is  this  your 
old  stump  orator — and  the  merry  royster*  at  the  “bran 
dance”  and  “coon  hunt”  and  cabin  fireside? 

And  then,  his  pretty  little  wife — whilom  so  plain,  so 
frugal,  so  friendly,  so  joyous,  so  like  your  own!  Does 
she  wear  her  honours  meekly?  Behold  her  in  the  splen¬ 
did  drawing-room,  “all  made  up”  for  exhibition  by  gas¬ 
light,  and  at  a  respectful  distance !  How  magnificent 
and  gorgeous  in  her  apparel — how  majestic  and  queenly 
in  her  every  act  and  attitude — how  radiant  in  beauty, 


*  Roystering — used  by  Blanco  White. 


280  MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 

smiles  and  jewelry — how  fastidious  and  tasteful  in  all 
her  appointments!  What  a  brilliant  and  dazzling  spec¬ 
tacle  for  vulgar  eyes  to  gaze  at!  And  your  privilege 
extends  no  further. 

As  to  the  youthful  dignities — male  and  female — why, 
a  dozen  of  your  best  cotton  or  tobacco  crops,  at  present 
“whig  prices,”  wouldn’t  pay  for  their  outward  head-gear 
— to  say  nothing  of  their  interior  adornment.  A  certain 
William  Shdksjgeare  is  understood  to  have  been  a  favoured 
guest  on  some  such  occasion :  and  he  reports,  that 

“On  each  side  her 

Stood  pretty  dimpled  boys,  like  smiling  Cupids, 

With  diverse-coloured  fans,  whose  wind  did  seem 
To  glow  the  delicate  cheeks  which  they  did  cool.”* 

But,  “tempora  mutantur,  et  nos  mutamur  in  illis.” 
Anglice:  “Well,  sure  enough,  there  is  no  telling  what 
some  folks  will  come  to.”  “Set  a  beggar  on  horseback, 
and  he  will  ride” — clear  of  the  sheriff  any  day;  ay! 
and  carry  off  your  purse  to  boot. 

A  species  of  official  aristocracy,  manufactured  out  of 
original  low-bred  cringing  democratic  beggars,  may  be 
met  with  in  every  part  of  the  land : — Arrogant,  haughty, 
domineering,  insolent,  overbearing,  heartless — and  vulgar 
withal. 

Mr.  Jefferson  laboured,  at  the  commencement  of  the 
Revolution,  by  annulling  the  laws  of  entail,  primogeni¬ 
ture,  and  others  affecting  inheritances,  to  eradicate  from 
the  soil  of  Virginia  the  old  aristocracy  of  wealth  and 
office.  He  wished,  as  he  said,  “to  make  an  opening  for 


*  Shakspeare’s  Antony  and  Cleopatra,  p.  648. 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  281 

the  aristocracy  of  virtue  and  talent;”  which  he  “ deemed 
essential  to  a  well-ordered  republic.”*  I  agree  with  Mr. 
Jefferson  in  this  doctrine,  as  also  in  another,  which  re¬ 
stricts  the  presidential  reign  to  a  single  term— though  I 
differ  from  him  about  gun-boats,  the  qualified  executive 
veto ,  and  some  twenty  more  of  his  visionary  projects  and 
peculiar  fantasies.  I  treat  Mr.  Jefferson,  you  see,  exactly 
as  all  other  good  whigs  and  democrats  treat  him.  He  is 
first-rate  and  all-sufficient  authority  when  he  is  right — 
that  is,  when  he  is  on  my  side — when  he  speaks  accord¬ 
ing  to  “my  understanding  of  the  constitution/’  But 
when  he  is  wrong — that  is,  against  my  creed  or  system 
— I  hold  him  cheap,  and  let  him  alone. 

Now,  Mr.  Jefferson,  with  ail  his  sagacity,  seems  not  to 
have  dreamed  that  an  aristocracy  of  office  could  ever 
possibly  grow  up  under  the  new  government  then  about 
to  be  established.  He  fancied  that  “virtue  and  talent” 
would  be  sought  for  and  honoured  by  the  people,  and  by 
the  people’s  chief  servant  [the  President.]  Whereas,  ex¬ 
perience  shows  that  impudence,  profligacy  and  the  basest 
sycophancy  are  the  main  requisites  to  success  with  either. 
This  is  our  besetting  sin.  We  elect  bad  men  to  office. 
Here  is  the  root  of  the  evil.  Here  we  must  begin  the 
work  of  reform,  and  we  must  do  it  thoroughly;  or  we 
shall  soon  cease  to  possess  a  government  worth  looking 
after,  or  over  which  we  could  exercise  control,  even  if  we 
would.  To  aid  you  in  this  momentous  work  of  timely  and 
radical  reform,  I  tender  you  a  word  of  caution  and  advice. 

Never  vote  for  a  man  because  he  is  poor.  Never  re- 


*  Tucker’s  Life  of  Jefferson,  vol.  i.  p.  93. 


282 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


ject  or  refuse  to  vote  for  a  man  because  he  is  rich. 
Poverty  is  no  qualification  for  office;  neither  is  wealth. 
If  }7ou  would  help  a  poor  man,  give  him  money :  or,  what 
is  better,  provide  him  useful  productive  employment.  A 
man  who  has  squandered  his  estate  foolishly  or  wick¬ 
edly,  or  who  has  notoriously  mismanaged  his  own  pri¬ 
vate  affairs,  would  not  therefore  seem  to  be  the  fittest 
person  to  grace  the  woolsack  or  the  treasury  bench,  or 
to  manage  the  affairs  of  a  nation.  A  poor  youth,  with 
stout  heart  and  honest  purpose  and  generous  aspirations, 
will  create  a  path  to  honourable  distinction :  and  in  due 
time,  like  Franklin  and  Sherman,  will  command  the 
confidence  and  respect  which  he  deserves.  Our  thou¬ 
sand  banks,  and  as  many  other  moneyed  corporations — 
our  hundred  thousand  lucrative  posts  and  stations,  civic 
and  military,  state  and  national  —  hold  out  so  many 
temptations  to  poor,  do-nothing-would-be-gentlemen,  that 
it  has  already  become  a  sort  of  common  law  to  regard 
all  these  snug  places  as  their  birthright,  and  to  dispose 
of  them  accordingly.  Of  how  many  excellent  black¬ 
smiths  and  tailors  and  ploughmen  and  reapers,  may  not 
our  country  have  been  deprived  by  this  unwise  and  anti¬ 
republican  procedure  ? 

Poverty,  above  labour  and  affecting  gentility — cring¬ 
ing,  sponging,  tuft- hunting,  toad-eating  poverty — ever 
dangling  in  the  train  of  wealth  or  power,  or  doing  hom¬ 
age  to  a  besotted  populace  for  a  few  paltry  loaves  and 
fishes — a  poverty  at  once  too  proud  and  too  mean  to 
help  itself  to  honest  independency — is  entitled  to  no 
sympathy,  and  assuredly  to  no  reward. 


283 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 

Never  vote  for  a  man  because  he  is  a  federalist  or 
republican  or  whig  or  democrat;  or  because  he  is  for 
Yan  Buren  or  Clay  or  Tyler  or  Calhoun;  or  because  he 
is  known  as  the  advocate  or  opponent  of  Bank  or  Tariff, 
or  of  any  test  measure,  scheme  or  policy.  The  candidate 
who  seeks  to  gain  your  support  by  the  illusion  of  mere 
party  names,  or  by  pledges  or  promises  or  professions  of 
any  kind,  is  virtually  tampering  with  your  integrity,  and 
is  attempting  to  bribe  you  as  certainly  as  if  he  were  to 
proffer  you  gold  or  whisky  or  future  office.  This  is  in 
fact  the  usual  and  the  most  insidious  mode  of  operating 
upon  masses  of  the  people.  Their  hopes  and  fears,  their 
passions  and  prejudices  are  aroused  and  enlisted  in  be¬ 
half  of  any  cause,  and  consequently  of  its  boldest  and 
fiercest  champions, — without  the  slightest  acquaintance 
with,  or  respect  to,  the  real  merits  of  the  one  or  the 
other. 

Virtue,  capacity,  intelligence,  wisdom,  integrity,  ought 
to  be  the  commanding  attributes  of  public  men — of  all 
rulers,  judges,  law- makers.  These  constitute  the  only 
right  or  claim  which  any  man  can  justly  prefer  as  the 
ground  of  choice  either  by  the  people  or  the  executive. 

But  how  can  we  be  assured  of  these  high  qualities  in 
any  man  before  trial?  I  answer,  every  man  is  on  trial, 
in  the  presence  of  all  his  brethren,  while  a  private  citi¬ 
zen.  And  his  true  character  may  be  always  known,  if 
you  will  suffer  him  to  remain  a  private  citizen  long 
enough  for  a  thorough  trial.  No  man  is  fit  for  public 
life,  who  has  not  acted  well  his  part  in  private  life. 
While  the  man  who  has  ably,  faithfully,  nobly,  dis- 


284 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


charged  the  duties  and  obligations  imposed  on  him  by 
his  various  ties,  relations,  pursuits,  engagements  and 
connexions,  may  be  safely  trusted  anywhere  and  in 
any  sphere.  “He  that  is  faithful  in  that  which  is 
least,  is  faithful  also  in  much.”  (Luke,  xvi.  10.)  Here 
is  a  test  or  criterion,  sufficiently  accurate  and  obvious; 
by  which  our  farmers  and  mechanics  may  judge  of  the 
pretensions  of  any  individual.  Let  them  look  at  the 
man — not  at  the  whig  or  democrat.  If  the  man  be 
good  and  capable,  he  will  not  abuse  your  confidence, 
nor  disappoint  reasonable  expectations.  The  less  popu¬ 
lar,  the  more  truly  respectable.  A  popular  man,  accord¬ 
ing  to  the  common  acceptation  of  the  phrase,  is  always 
a  mean,  wordy,  complying,  crafty,  deceitful  fox  of  a  fel¬ 
low — who  values  you  precisely  at  what  you  are  worth 
to  his  cause  or  party. 

Of  course,  this  kind  of  evidence  cannot  be  furnished 
by  very  young  men — at  least  to  an  extent  that  may,  in 
all  cases,  be  relied  on.  When  such  are  employed,  as 
they  often  may  and  must  be,  in  stations  fiduciary,  minis¬ 
terial  and  executive;  they  should  be  selected  according 
to  the  fairest  indications  of  talent  and  moral  m>rth,  and 
without  bias  or  influence  from  family,  rank  or  party. 
The  most  important  civil  offices,  however,  particularly 
the  legislative,  ought  never  to  be  filled  by  young  men. 
Legislation  is  undoubtedly  the  most  solemn  and  moment¬ 
ous  function  which  can  be  assigned  to  mortal  man.  Judi¬ 
cious  legislation  demands,  or  rather  implies,  the  highest 
order  and  degree  of  intellect,  judgment,  wisdom,  knowl¬ 
edge,  experience,  firmness,  rectitude,  candour,  probity, 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  285 


calmness  and  deliberation.  Well  might  we  ask:  who  is 
sufficient  for  these  things?  Though  practically — among 
ourselves — the  question  rather  is:  who  is  not  sufficient? 
The  task  which  a  Moses  shrunk  from  at  the  age  of  eighty, 
is  intrepidly  essayed  by  any  stripling  in  the  land,  who 
can  muster  words  and  brass  enough  to  win  the  plaudits 
of  the  people.  Fluency  and  strength  of  lungs,  with  an 
adroit  66  sprinkling”  of  cant  phrases  and  party  shibbo¬ 
leths, ,  will  convert  the  unknown  boy  of  yesterday  into 
the  orach  orator  of  to-day,  and  the  “ veteran”  statesman 
of  to-morrow. 

The  framers  of  all  our  constitutions  seem  to  have 
copied  after  a  false  or  inappropriate  model,  when  they 
provided  for  the  admission  of  very  young  men  into  the 
legislative  or  law-making  body.  They  had  in  their  eye 
the  British  Parliament:  which  was  not,  in  either  of  its 
grand  divisions,  originally  constructed  or  designed  for 
the  business  of  legislation.  The  House  of  Lords — once 
a  mere  advisory  council  of  feudal  Barons,  or  judicial  tri¬ 
bunal  assisting  or  relieving  the  liege  in  the  dispensation 
of  justice;  [and  still  retaining  a  large  measure  of  its 
primitive  juridical  supremacy — ]  became,  by  degrees,  a 
branch  of  the  law-making  power  of  the  realm.  Thus, 
too,  the  Commons,  at  first,  had  no  legislative  duties, 
strictly  speaking,  to  perform.  Its  members  were  elected 
by  the  boroughs  or  shires,  as  their  representatives  or 
agents,  merely  to  grant  their  own  money  to  the  crown. 
Their  vocation  was  simple  and  extremely  limited.  They 
determined  the  amount  to  be  supplied,  and  the  mode  of 
raising  it  by  a  tax  upon  themselves;  agreeably  to  the 


286 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


immemorial  and  time-honoured  usage  or  fundamental 
principle  of  the  unwritten  British  constitution:  namely, 
That  taxation  and  representation  go  together  —  that 
money  cannot  be  taken  from  the  subject  without  his 
own  consent.  Of  course,  young  men,  duly  instructed 
quoad  hoc ,  were  competent  to  this  special  service.  They 
had  only  to  express  the  will  of  their  constituents — to 
vote  the  sum  required  or  agreed  on — and  to  return  to 
their  homes.  In  process  of  time,  the  Commons  also 
assumed  the  higher  and  more  distinctive  faculties  of 
national  legislation.  Still,  the  two  Houses  continued 
to  be  organized  agreeably  to  ancient  custom;  although 
their  character  had  undergone  a  radical  change.  To¬ 
gether,  they  had  insensibly  become  the  fountain  and 
source  of  the  entire  statutory  code  of  the  empire.  Young 
men,  by  birth  and  title,  might  enter  the  first:  and  young 
men  were  eligible  to  the  latter.  Both  however  held 
office  so  long — the  one  for  life,  and  the  other  for  seven 
years,  with  a  moral  certainty  of  repeated  re-election — 
that  they  could,  if  they  pleased,  learn,  as  in  a  school,  the 
science  and  mystery  of  legislation.  At  any  rate,  among 
such  a  host  of  grave  and  “ reverend  seniors,”  little  incon¬ 
venience  was  likely  to  result  from  youthful  indiscretion, 
zeal  or  ignorance. 

Between  them  and  us  there  is,  in  this  respect,  a  wide 
difference,  and  but  small  analogy.  We  have  no  perma¬ 
nent  or  hereditary  senators — none  of  sufficiently  long 
continuance  to  constitute  a  school  for  the  instruction  of 
their  juniors.  We  elect  for  one  or  two  years:  and  we 
are  perpetually  changing  our  representatives.  A  young 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


man  of  twenty-one  or  twenty-five,  cannot  learn  much  in 
a  year  or  two.  Nor  can  he,  at  that  age,  be  presumed  to 
be  qualified  to  make,  or  to  aid  in  making,  good  laws. 
Thus,  one  set  of  youngsters  after  another,  in  rapid  suc¬ 
cession,  may,  by  the  constitution,  be  intrusted  with  the 
entire  machinery  of  our  government.  How  far  in  prac¬ 
tice  we  may  have  guarded  against  this  constitutional 
defect,  I  shall  not  inquire.  That  our  legislative  assem¬ 
blies  are  always  the  most  venerable,  peaceful,  judicious, 
enlightened,  courteous  and  exemplary— I  think,  even  we , 
chivalrous,  modest,  immaculate  Tennesseeans,  will  not 
affirm! 

In  order  to  meet  the  case  and  to  prevent  future  abuse, 
I  would  respectfully  suggest  a  twofold  amendment  to  all 
our  constitutions,  both  State  and  Federal. 

First.  Let  no  man  be  eligible  to  a  seat  in  any  legis¬ 
lative  body  in  our  country  under  the  age  of  fifty.  He 
will  have  established  a  character  for  wisdom  or  folly  by 
that  time.  And  you  may  know  him  thoroughly.  He 
will  have  passed  the  usual  period  of  intriguing,  corrupt, 
time-serving,  place -seeking,  “  log-rolling,”  inordinate, 
grasping  ambition — as  well  as  of  bullying,  swaggering, 
fighting  and  “renowning,”  in  committees  of  the  whole, 
after  dinner,  or  at  the  “  races”  on  a  holiday — taken  with¬ 
out  leave.  Nor  will  he  be  likely  to  indulge  in  any  of 
those  glorifications,  “ sprees,”  minings ,  brawls  and  “jolli¬ 
fications”  which  keep  in  a  state  of  feverish  excitement, 
alarm  and  terror,  all  quiet  citizens  during  their  interm¬ 
inable  and  most  expensive  sessions.  He  will  have  no 
occasion  to  address  an  empty  house  by  the  day  or  the 


288 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


week,  merely  to  eke  out  an  electioneering  speech  for 
“  Buncombe.”  Sundry  other  advantages  might  be  men¬ 
tioned — but  I  leave  you  to  guess  them.  At  present,  they 
are  capital  debating  clubs, — for  timid  college  graduates 
to  acquire  confidence  and  improve  their  logic  by  daily 
practice,  and  to  learn  with  how  little  wisdom  the  world 
is  governed. 

Second.  Members  of  our  legislatures  ought  to  receive 
no  per  diem  pay  or  wages.  Then  there  would  be  no 
temptation  for  drivelling  avarice  or  dwarfish  gentility 
to  covet  the  honour.  I  would  allow  them  good  fare  at 
the  public  expense,  upon  the  Washingtonian  teetotal  ab¬ 
stinence  plan — and  nothing  more.  Give  them  comfort¬ 
able  quarters  and  plenty  of  cold  water.— Let  them  do 
their  proper  work  soberly;  behave  with  decency;  amend 
or  repeal  all  bad  laws;  and  enact  as  few  new  ones  as 
possible.  And  the  sooner  they  are  off,  the  better.  Or 
if  some  pay  they  must  have,  let  it  be  a  fixed  annuity — 
so  much  by  the  year,  while  in  office.  Thus  a  salary  of 
two  or  three  hundred  dollars  to  members  of  a  state  legis¬ 
lature,  and  of  one  thousand  or  fifteen  hundred  to  mem¬ 
bers  of  Congress,  would  insure  both  economy  and  profit 
to  all  parties. 

Adopt  and  enforce  these  two  very  simple  and  obvious 
regulations;  and  you  will  have  made  a  grand  movement 
towards  the  amelioration  of  your  condition  in  all  respects. 
The  legislature  is  omnipotent  for  weal  or  wo.  It  med¬ 
dles  with  every  interest  and  employment.  It  appoints 
to  numerous  offices,  and  fixes  the  salaries  of  all  incum¬ 
bents.  It  levies  taxes,  and  appropriates  the  revenue,  at 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


2S9 


pleasure.  In  a  word,  like  the  British  Parliament,  it  can 
do  anything,  except  “make  a  man  a  woman,  or  a  woman 
a  man.” 

It  is  a  curious  anomaly  in  the  American  system,  that 
every  legislature  possesses  the  sovereign,  independent, 
unrestricted  power  of  paying  its  own  members,  and  also 
of  paying  all  public  servants  of  whatever  name  or  de¬ 
gree.  To  themselves,  they  vote  as  much  as  they  dare , 
— with  the  fear  of  the  people  before  their  eyes,  and  in 
prudent  deference  to  the  coming  jpolls  and  the  irrevoca¬ 
ble  decree  of  the  mysterious  ballot-box.  The  daily  pay, 
in  the  several  States,  ranges  from  one  dollar  and  fifty 
cents  to  six  dollars.*  Where  the  pay  reaches  to  two  or 
three  dollars  or  more,  members  contrive,  by  appropri¬ 
ating  certain  extra  perquisites,  under  the  general  head 
of  incidental  or  contingent  expenses,  to  do  a  pretty  good 
business.  That  is,  by  adding  to  their  regular  legal  allow¬ 
ance  of  dollars  the  aforesaid  “stealings,”  they  may,  by 
prolonging  a  session  to  six  or  eight  months,  make  a  very 
snug  job  “in  hard  times”  out  of  the  people,— and  the 
people  be  none  the  wiser  all  the  time.  While  they  thus 
betray  a  reasonable  regard  to  their  own  interests,  they 
make  a  grand  parade  of  economy  and  self-denial,  of  their 
vigilant  and  jealous  care  of  the  dear  people’s  little  purses, 
and  of  their  extreme  abhorrence  of  all  big  salaries  and 
other  wasteful  aristocratic  extravagance.  So  that  they 
will  spend  time,  worth  ten  thousand  dollars  to  the  people, 
in  debating  about  an  addition  of  fifty  or  a  hundred  dol- 

*  The  lowest  sum  obtains  in  Vermont — the  highest,  in  Louisiana. 
The  per  diem  is  four  dollars  in  Tennessee. 

vol.  m. — 19 


290 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


lars  to  the  salary  of  the  most  laborious  and  faithful  pub¬ 
lic  officer  in  the  State: — or  about  voting  a  trifle  to  any 
object  of  manifest  and  permanent  utility  to  the  whole 
population. 

The  case  of  our  worthy  judges  may  serve  as  one  ex¬ 
ample  of  the  class  referred  to.  How  inadequately  are 
they  remunerated,  in  nearly  all  the  States,  for  the  most 
important  services !  And  yet  how  incessant  are  the 
efforts  and  speeches,  made  at  almost  every  legislative 
meeting,  to  reduce  their  salaries !  Who  can  estimate 
the  cost  of  these  efforts  and  speeches? — Does  it  not  fre¬ 
quently  exceed  in  amount  the  whole  annual  charges  of 
the  judicial  department  of  the  State? 

A  word  here  of  a  plan  for  a  good  and  independent 
judiciary.  Appoint  well  educated  young  men  of  supe¬ 
rior  talents  and  great  promise,  first,  to  the  Bench  of  an 
inferior  court.  Thence  raise  them  to  a  higher;  and  so 
on,  to  the  highest;  according  to  seniority  and  merit — 
with  a  suitable  increase  of  salary  at  each  advance  in 
rank.  Let  the  judges  of  the  supreme  and  other  courts 
of  the  Union  be  selected  from  the  ablest  and  most  de¬ 
serving  of  the  State  judges.  Thus  the  service  will 
become,  as  it  ought  to  be,  a  regular  profession,  like 
that  of  the  officers  in  the  army  and  navy.  A  fair 
prospect  of  honourable  promotion  ever  in  view,  will  act 
as  a  stimulus  to  exertion  and  good  conduct  through  life. 
Or,  if  elected  without  any  such  prospect  or  expectation 
and  only  for  a  limited  period,  then  select  the  most  ac¬ 
complished  lawyers;  pay  them  liberally;  and  restrict 

* 

them  to  a  single  term,  that  they  may  not  be  tempted 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


291 


to  prepare  an  electioneering  train  in  advance,  in  order 
to  secure  a  reappointment.  I  suppose  it  need  hardly  be 
insisted,  that  no  man  should  be  elevated  to  the  Bench 
and  decorated  with  the  ermine,  merely  in  reward  for 
political  party  services  and  mercenary  compliances.  So 
gross  an  outrage  upon  every  principle  of  decency  and 
justice,  could  never  find  an  apologist,  except  among  the 
basest  and  most  flagitious  of  depraved  demagogues  or 
tyrants.  England  has  had  her  Scroggs  and  Jeffreys  : 
and  America- — would  do  well  to  profit  by  the  example! 

Since  our  country  is  a  democracy- — at  least,  so  the 
people  rejoice  to  style  it — I  purpose  to  advocate  demo¬ 
cratic  doctrines  and  institutions  to  the  uttermost  verge 
and  meaning  of  the  text.  Let  us  then  have  democracy 
— thorough-going,  out-and-out,  fair-spoken,  open-handed, 
consistent,  universal  democracy.  A  democracy  that 
secures  to  every  man  his  own,  and  concedes  to  every 
man  his  due.  A  democracy  that  insures  the  greatest 
freedom,  peace  and  happiness  to  each  individual,  and 
to  all  the  people.  A  democracy  that  deceives  nobody, 
that  vexes  nobody,  that  wrongs  nobody,  that  abuses  no¬ 
body,  that  oppresses  nobody: — That  protects  the  weak, 
the  helpless,  the  ignorant  and  the  friendless;  and  that 
is  uniformly  just  and  generous  to  everybody.  A  democ¬ 
racy  that  yields  gracefully  to  the  will  of  the  majority, 
and  that  never  invades  the  rights  or  wmunds  the  feelings 
of  any  minority.  I  go  for  the  democracy  of  numbers. 
Give  the  people  fair  play;  ample  scope  and  a  clear  field; 
and  let  them  steer  the  ship  of  state  after  their  own 
fashion — right  or  wrong.  Either  this  largest  liberty— 


292 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


this  uncontrolled  popular  discretion,  on  the  one  hand; 
or  the  all-grasping,  omnipotent  “one-man  power”  on  the 
other.  There  is  no  alternative,  no  middle  ground,  no 
half-way  house.  The  danger  imminent,  is — that,  under 
a  masked  battery,  while  certain  honest  men  seem  to  con¬ 
tend  for  the  people’s  sway,  they  are  in  fact  rushing  head¬ 
long  together  into  the  dictator’s  arms. 

The  people  are  changeable.  True, — and  let  them 
change  both  men  and  measures  as  oft  as  they  please. 
Allow  them  the  opportunity,  by  frequent  elections,  to 
express  their  mind  fully,  frankly — and  without  bias 
from  any  “caucus,”  clique  or  wire-puller  from  behind 
the  throne.  Popular  elections  become  less  exciting, 
turbulent  and  mischievous,  just  in  proportion  to  their 
frequency.  Were  governors  and  legislators  chosen  an¬ 
nually  for  instance,  there  would  be  felt  much  less  inter¬ 
est  in  the  issue,  because  there  would  be  less  at  stake, 
than  when  they  are  chosen  for  a  longer  period.  The 
disappointment  of  a  defeated  party  would  be  no  great 
matter,  because  they  could  try  again  in  a  year.  Nor 
would  it  be  worth  while  for  candidates  to  waste  their 
ammunition  upon  such  meager  game.  They  would  stay 
at  home,  and  leave  the  people  to  their  own  “sober  second 
thoughts.”  In  those  States  where  elections  are  annual, 
and  where  the  governors  possess  no  peculiar  power  or 
patronage  out  of  which  to  make  “political  capital”  for 
their  future  advancement — and  where  especially,  they 
cannot  encroach  upon  the  legislative  department  or  nul¬ 
lify  its  action  by  the  arbitrary  interposition  of  the  royal 
negative  or  veto —there  the  elections  are  usually  very 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


293 


quiet,  decent  affairs,  compared  with  those  of  other  States 
where  a  different  usage  obtains.  Witness  New  Jersey, 
for  example;  contrasted  with  New  York  and  Pennsyl¬ 
vania  on  either  side. 

Here  I  should  have  named  Rhode  Island,  along  with 
New  Jersey,  as  the  very  Eden  of  democracy  and  con¬ 
tentment,  but  for  recent  occurrences.  Sad  proof,  by-the- 
way,  that  all  human  sagacity  may  be  at  fault!  That 
my  own  sage  speculations  may  turn  out  moonshine! 
And  that  nothing  will  go  right,  until  the  world  shall 
be  thoroughly  “Tammanized;”  or  ee  Gerrymandered”  into 
u Chaos  or  Chimeras  dire!” 

Poor  Rhode  Island !  Why,  she  was  accounted  and 
actually  called  “a  democracy”  more  than  a  hundred 
years  (1641)  before  the  revolutionary  ball  wras  set  in 
motion.*  So  pure  and  radical  was  her  democracy,  that 
no  mortal  dreamt  of  a  possible  change  for  the  better. 
Her  charter,  dated  July  8,  1663,  though  granted  and 
signed  by  a  monarch,  [Charles  II.,]  was  carefully  pre¬ 
pared  by  John  Clarice ,  the  agent  of  the  colony  in  Eng¬ 
land — with  the  assistance  and  advice,  no  doubt,  of  Roger 
Williams  at  home,  the  venerated  fathers  of  the  colony 
and  of  religious  liberty.  Under  it,  she  has  flourished 
and  prospered,  some  two  centures,  without  having  wit¬ 
nessed  or  tolerated  a  single  act  of  tyranny  or  injustice. 
She  took  up  arms  at  the  Revolution  to  preserve,  not  to 
destroy  her  charter — -and  so  did  all  her  sister  colonies. 

*  See  Elton’s  Early  History  of  Rhode  Island,  p.  213.  R.  Williams 
founded  Providence  in  1636.  See  Burke’s  Works,  vol.  ix.  p.  411. 
See  also  Goddard’s  Address,  p.  54. 


294 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


If,  when  the  war  of  independence  was  happily  termin¬ 
ated,  she  found  less  to  alter  in  the  form  of  her  govern¬ 
ment  than  did  her  neighbours,  it  was  because  there  was 
less  need  of  it.  None  of  them  adopted  a  more  perfectly 
republican  or  democratic  system  than  she  had  been  accus¬ 
tomed  to  from  the  beginning.  Connecticut  also  adhered 
to  her  charter,  mutatis  mutandis ,  until  1818:  when  she 
formed  a  constitution  in  compliance  with  the  clamours 
of  a  pseudo  democracy — less  democratic  however  than 
was  her  time-honoured  regal  charter.  New  Jersey  com¬ 
pleted  her  task  of  constitution  making  two  days  before 
the  formal  Declaration  of  national  Independence  by  Con¬ 
gress,  [July  2,  1776.]  It  is  the  shortest  and  the  best  in 
the  whole  category. 

In  general,  the  excellence  of  our  constitutions  is  ac¬ 
cording  to  the  inverse  ratio  of  their  length.  Should  you 
be  curious  to  calculate  the  absolute  or  relative  value  of 
a  constitution:  count  the  pages  in  any  printed  Book  of 
the  Constitutions;  and  by  the  rule  just  stated  you  may 
ascertain  it  to  a  mathematical  certainty.  Thus,  when  I 
find  a  constitution— as  is  the  fact  in  most  cases  —  ten 
times  longer  than  that  of  New  Jersey,  I  pronounce  it 
but  one-tenth  as  good,  or  tenfold  worse.*  These  instru¬ 
ments  are  growing  so  rapidly  in  size  among  us,  that 

*  Thrice  happy  and  fortunate,  dear  good  old  New  Jersey!  In  joy¬ 
ous  tranquillity  has  she  reposed  ever  since  July  2,  1116.  And  should 
she  continue  to  maintain  unaltered,  at  least  unenlarged,  her  precious 
little  handbill  of  a  constitution,  for  a  hundred  years  to  come,  she  will 
cause  her  Broad  Seal  to  be  respected  by  all  true-hearted  democrats — 
if  not  by  a  democratic  House  of  Congress — and  by  her  own  dutiful 
sons  the  wide  world  over. 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


295 


many  of  them  have  already  become  a  species  of  codifi¬ 
cation;  a  kind  of  ill-digested,  verbose  compendium  or 
abstract  of  jurisprudence;  or  substitute  for  the  whole 
body  of  existing  common  and  statute  law.  By  thus  at¬ 
tempting  to  define  and  regulate  everything,  they  greatly 
embarrass  honest  men,  and  afford  boundless  scope  to 
rogues,  who  always  construe  the  text  to  suit  their  own 
purposes.  All  written  constitutions  are  an  evil  at  the 
best:  and  very  long  ones  are  worse  than  none,  because 
they  will  inevitably  be  perverted  to  mischievous  uses, 
and  made  the  potent  engines  of  legalized  oppression  and 
iniquity. 

But  I  have  not  done  with  Rhode  Island. 

Had  the  task  been  assigned  me,  five  years  ago,  to 
point  out  the  most  democratic  commonwealth  in  the 
Union  or  in  the  world,  I  should  have  named  Rhode 

Island  first  and  at  the  head  of  the  list.  Her  governor 

*• 

is  powerless  to  do  barm.  He  has  no  imperial  veto  pre¬ 
rogative.  He  is  chosen  annually.  His  salary  is  $400. 
That  of  the  Lieutenant-Governor  is  $200.  The  Chief 
Justice  is  paid  $650,  and  each  of  the  Associate  Justices 
$550.  No  people  on  earth  govern  themselves,  or  man¬ 
age  their  public  affairs  at  so  cheap  a  rate.  The  mem¬ 
bers  of  both  houses  of  the  legislature  are  elected  twice 
a  year.  They  hold  office  only  six  months.  Tennessee, 
by  the  latter  test,  is  but  one-fourth  as  democratic  as 
Rhode  Island:  by  the  governor’s  official  term,  one  half; 
and  by  his  salary,  only  one-fifth  as  democratic.  I  give 
these  as  fair  specimens  of  the  logic  usually  employed  in 
arguments  and  comparisons  of  this  sort. 


296 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


We  have,  here  in  Tennessee,  made  two  constitutions 
within  less  than  forty  years — the  first  a  pretty  good,  the 
last  a  very  bad  one.  I  am  not  going  just  now  to  specify 
its  objectionable  features  or  provisions.*  I  select  one 
item  [found  in  both]  only,  and  that  because  it  is  analo¬ 
gous  to  the  evils  complained  of  in  the  royal  charter  of 
Rhode  Island.  We  disfranchise  clergymen;  and  declare 
them  ineligible  to  a  seat  in  the  legislature.  Now  I  defy 
the  wit  of  man  to  designate  a  more  flagrant  violation  of 
democratic  principle  and  the  equal  rights  of  man,  than 
is  involved  in  this  simple  case.  No  ingenuity  can  con¬ 
jure  out  of  the  Rhode  Island  charter,  as  interpreted  by 
long  usage,  a  totality  of  objections  comparable  to  this 
one  broad,  naked,  undisguised  declaration  of  the  Ten¬ 
nessee  constitution:  that  ministers  of  the  gospel  are  not 
to  be  trusted:  that  they  shall  not  live  among  us  as  the 
peers  of  swineherds  and  “  squatters”  and  wolf-hunters.  I 
do  not  speak  of  the  injustice  inflicted  upon  the  clergy 
per  se.  They  may  be  a  tricky,  subtle,  slippery,  danger¬ 
ous  set  of  smooth-tongued  hypocrites,  and  may  richly 
deserve  the  mark  thus  set  upon  them.  Grant  them  to 
be  as  bad  as  you  please  to  represent  them — as  bad  as 
the  very  elite  of  your  honourable  selves]* — and  lower,  we 
cannot  get,  if  we  would — allow  them,  I  say,  to  be  as  bad 
as  the  reputed  Hero  of  Milton’s  Epic,  that  arch  deceiver, 
who  has  been  enacting  the  angel,  the  priest,  the  prophet, 


*  The  worst  article  in  the  new  constitution  is  that  relative  to  tax¬ 
ation:  the  ad  valorem  principle;  tax  on  land;  taxing  privileges,  etc. 
Liable  to  great  abuse. 

I  The  members  of  the  Legislature,  namely,  who  were  present. 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  297 


the  politician  and  the  democrat,  as  well  as  the  66 roaring 
lion/’  ever  since  he  despoiled  our  beauteous  mother  and 
her  glorious  lord  of  their  celestial  inheritance :  It  matters 
not:  The  reason  or  the  excuse  avails  nothing.  I  speak 
of  the  principle — a  deep,  radical  principle- — which,  if  car¬ 
ried  out  in  practice,  might  sweep  away  all  your  boasted 
franchises.  For  by  the  same  rule,  any  other  class,  craft 
or  profession  might  have  been,  or  may  yet  be,  proscribed 
or  put  under  the  ban  of  the  commonwealth.  The  prin¬ 
ciple  virtually  assumed  was,  that  a  majority  of  the  people 
were  competent  to  proclaim  and  decree  the  utter  disfran¬ 
chisement  of  any  portion  or  the  whole  of  the  minority. 
Thus  the  farmers,  acting  in  concert,  might  have  excluded 
the  lawyers,  doctors,  merchants  and  mechanics  —  upon 
the  very  plausible  and  benevolent  plea,  that  all  these 
good  folks  had  enough  to  do  to  mind  their  own  business, 
and  attend  to  the  wants  of  their  clients,  patients  and  cus¬ 
tomers.  I  advise  the  farmers  to  go  ahead— upon  this  hint. 

Now  I  do  not  wish  to  get  up  a  Dorr-io,  war  in  behalf 
of  the  down-trodden  parsons,  nor  to  propagate  democracy 
at  the  cannon’s  mouth,  nor  to  establish  their  claims  to 
equality  of  privilege  by  demolishing  the  government. 
Had  the  charter  of  Rhode  Island  ordained  that  no  shoe¬ 
maker  or  barber  should  be  eligible  to  office,  there  might 
have  been  ground  for  complaint,  and  remonstrance  and 
reform;  but  not  for  revolution  and  bloodshed.  Though 
even  this  would  have  been  a  trifle  compared  with  the 
Tennessee  enormity;  because  the  clergy  among  us  are  a 
vastly  more  numerous  body  than  either  the  shoemakers 
or  barbers. 


298 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


The  Rhode  Island  troubles  were  created  solely  by 
agitators  sent  thither  from  abroad  on  purpose  to  sow 
the  seeds  of  discontent — to  foment  discord,  anarchy  and 
rebellion.  Left  to  themselves,  the  people  were  perfectly 
satisfied  with  their  political  condition.  Or  if  not,  they 
always  had  a  remedy  within  reach — a  lawful  mode  of 
redressing  grievances,  and  of  remodeling  their  constitu¬ 
tion  to  suit  their  own  views,  was  ever  at  command. 
There  existed  not  a  shadow  of  reason  for  tumultuary 
violence ;  nor  for  the  sympathizing  countenance  and 
support  of  foreign  revolutionists.  Nor  would  they  have 
ever  perpetrated  those  insane  fooleries,  which  have  given 
notoriety  and  quasi  renown  to  a  second  soi-disant  “Mr. 
Equality,”  who  hoped  to  mount  the  throne  by  mob  ter¬ 
rors  and  hireling  cut-throats;  had  they  not  been  insti¬ 
gated  and  maddened  by  the  wicked  spirit  of  a  certain 
well  known  junta  of  atheistical  conspirators  against  all 
government — human  and  divine.  New  York  city  was 
their  head-quarters;  with  an  efficient  corps  on  duty  at 
Boston.  Genuine  democracy  had  no  agency  in  the  mat¬ 
ter.  Nor  is  their  commander-in-chief  a  whit  more  of  a 
democrat  than  was  his  illustrious  model,  the  duke  of 
Orleans; — whose  bitter  experience  of  the  tender  mercies 
of  an  armed,  drunken,  infuriated  populace,  might  serve 
as  a  warning  to  all  like-minded  adventurers,  to  run  away 
in  good  season,  and  in  “double  quick  time.”  The  name, 
the  watchword,  democracy,  was  used  and  abused,  just  as 
liberty,  religion,  reason,  are  currently  used  and  abused, 
to  serve  as  a  cloak,  a  pretext,  a  blind,  to  mislead,  entrap 
and  betray  the  weak  and  unsuspecting. 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


299 


No  popular  revolution,  according  to  Lord  Bacon,  and 
to  universal  experience,  was  ever  successful  unless  headed 
by  the  aristocracy :  who,  also,  are  usually  the  first  to  per¬ 
ish  from  its  violence.  “The  victims  lead  the  procession 
that  conducts  them  to  the  knife.”  “  There  is  but  one 
step,”  roared  Mirabeau  from  his  stormy  tribune,  “  from 
the  Capitol  to  the  Tarpeian  rock.” 

The  elemental  principle  of  democracy  is,  that  the  will 
of  the  majority,  freely  ascertained  and  legitimately  de¬ 
clared,  is  paramount  and  must  prevail.  Every  project 
to  undermine,  counteract,  pervert,  destroy  or  paralyze 
this  principle,  is  direct  hostility  and  treason  against 
democracy.  Have  not  the  people  of  Bhode  Island  an 
indefeasible  right  to  choose  their  own  form  of  repub¬ 
lican  government,  without  let  or  hindrance,  counsel  or 
menace,  from  abroad?  Would  we,  of  Tennessee,  permit 
Virginia  or  Mississippi  to  instruct  us,  or  to  force  improve¬ 
ment  down  our  throats,  as  the  British  dose  the  Chinese 
with  opium,  by  means  of  powder  and  lead,  bayonets  and 
Paixhan  guns? 

This  most  ridiculous  Rhode  Island  farce,  which  had 
well-nigh  proved  a  tragedy,  was  brought  about  exactly 
after  the  manner  in  which  false  democratic  Catilines 
always  play  their  cards.  Their  sole  object  is  self- 
aggrandizement— office,  power,  money.  This  is  the 
secret  dominant  motive  with  them.  The  pretext  put 
forth  to  operate  on  others  is,  that  the  people  are  poor, 
miserable,  oppressed — and  ought  to  be  relieved.  They 
say  to  the  dear  suffering  people:  follow  us;  we  are  your 
friends;  we  will  rid  you  of  tyranny,  hang  your  lordly 


300 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


masters,  and  give  you  the  spoils  of  victory.  Whereas, 
if  these  same  whining,  patriotic,  disinterested  Catilines 
do  succeed,  they  incontinently  seize  upon  the  sceptre, 
the  sword,  the  purse,  the  law,  the  State;  and  forthwith 
enslave  and  crush  the  whole  mass,  rich  and  poor,  high 
and  low,  together.  Two  words,  namely,  “  Royal  Charter,” 
constituted  the  entire  staple  of  the  argument  wielded  by 
the  “new  lights”  in  the  present  case.  Not  a  few  honest 
souls — old  women  and  young  women- — were  sadly  fright¬ 
ened,  and  made  to  believe  that  Rhode  Island  and  Provi¬ 
dence  Plantations  were  still  governed  by  Charles  II.  and 
a  Tory  Parliament!  And  many  of  our  newspaper  editors 
seem  to  have  been  no  wiser.* 

To  prevent  even  the  appearance  of  inconsistency  in 
these  remarks,  I  submit  a  word  explanatory.  Democ¬ 
racy  then  does  not  proffer  everything  to  everybody; 
nor  promise  to  gratify  everybody’s  wishes,  schemes,  or 
caprices.  It  may  deny,  reject,  withhold,  refuse — when 
proper.  It  may  restrain,  imprison,  punish  in  many 
ways — when  necessary.  The  people  may  ordain,  that 
no  man  under  fifty  years  of  age  shall  make  laws  for 


*  All  demagogues  profess  to  be  democrats.  They  act,  throughout, 
as  did  the  first  grand  counterfeit  democratic  demagogue,  who  gently 
approached  the  ear  of  mother  Eve  with  words  of  music  and  flattery 
and  promise  and  sympathy.  “Your  condition  is  not  quite  so  good  as 
it  might  be,  as  it  ought  to  be,  as  it  easily  can  be :  nay,  it  is  positively 
a  bad  one  Listen  to  me,  and  it  shall  be  improved.  I  will  make  you 
wiser,  richer,  happier,  better.  Eat  this  delicious  fruit;  and  ‘your  eyes 
shall  be  opened:  and  ye  shall  be  as  gods.’  ‘Ye  shall  not  surely  die.’” 
She  listened:  and  the  villanous,  lying,  old  serpent  of  a  make-believe 
democrat  robbed  her  of  everything.  Why,  he  didn’t  leave  her  a  pica¬ 
yune  to  buy  an  apron  with  ! 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


301 


them. — That  no  man  who  cannot  read  and  write,  or 
who  is  a  drunkard,  or  swindler,  or  thief,  or  robber,  or 
duellist,  or  gambler,  or  assassin,  shall  be  eligible  to  office. 
But  if  they  were  to  ordain,  that  no  broker  or  barber,  no 
Catholic  or  Quaker,  should  be  eligible  to  office:  all  the 
democratic  world  would  cry  out,  shame,  injustice,  oppres¬ 
sion!  With  good  reason  too.  In  the  first  case,  individ¬ 
uals  only  are  affected,  and  for  the  want  of  personal  quali¬ 
ties  which  they  might  have  possessed  or  may  yet  acquire; 
or  for  personal  obliquities  which  they  might  have  avoided. 
In  the  latter  case,  entire  classes  and  sects  are  wronged 
wdthout  regard  to  personal  merit  or  demerit.  So  that 
the  highest  order  of  intellectual  and  moral  worth  would 
be  of  no  avail  to  them  or  to  the  public  service.  Let  this 
broad  distinction  be  kept  in  view. 

Democracy  seeks  the  greatest  happiness  of  the  great¬ 
est  number.  But  in  such  a  way,  I  repeat,  as  will  do  no 
injustice  or  unkindness  to  a  single  human  being. 

Here  I  may  as  well  enunciate  another  aphoristical 
truism,  or  recondite  paradox,  as  my  hearers  shall  choose 
to  accept  it.  All  ungodly  priests  wish  to  be  popes :  each 
is  in  fact  a  little  pope  at  heart:  but  when  they  find  it 
impossible  to  become  big  popes  in  severalty,  they  change 
their  tactics,  denounce  the  popedom,  preach  up  ecclesi¬ 
astical  parity,  and  confer  on  a  multitudinous  unity, 
namely,  upon  their  own  entire  reverend  fraternity,  all 
the  attributes  of  an  infallible  supremacy.  So  it  is  with 
selfish  politicians.  All  aim  at  and  covet  the  royal  dia¬ 
dem.  But  when  the  many  cannot  secure  it,  each  for 
himself,  they  unite  in  declaiming  against  all  sorts  of 


302 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


monarchy;  and  then  assume  in  partnership  and  for  the 
sole  behoof  of  the  firm,  absolute  dictatorial  powers.  Thus 
reigns  king  Party,  king  Whiggery,  king  Democracy,  king 
Lynch,  king  Mob,  king  Caucus  and  king  Sans  Culottes. 
Thus  reigns  pope  Presbytery,  pope  Independency,  pope 
All  Creed,  pope  No  Creed,  pope  Surplice  and  pope  Broad 
Brim.  Right  sturdy  kings  and  popes — all  of  them ! 

How  our  honoured  sires  regarded  all  these  matters,  I 
stop  not  to  inquire.  It  is  certain  that,  in  framing  the 
great  national  constitution,  they  did  not  foresee  and  pro¬ 
vide  for  many  contingencies  which  have  since  arisen  to 
perplex  and  harass  the  general  mind.  Experience  has 
exhibited  some  defects,  and  it  suggests  a  few  amend¬ 
ments.  That  such  would  be  the  result  of  experience, 
they  fully  anticipated :  and  therefore  wisely  prescribed 
the  mode  by  which  additions  and  alterations  might  be 
effected.  All  angry  disputes  and  controversies  about  the 
meaning  of  any  article,  or  about  the  powers  conferred 
by  it  upon  the  Federal  Government,  might  be  avoided  or 
amicably  adjusted,  by  a  simple  appeal  to  the  people  for 
a  renewed  expression  of  their  will  in  the  premises.  The 
initiatory  measures  for  such  reference,  with  a  view  to  any 
contemplated  amendment  or  modification,  may  be  taken 
by  Congress  or  by  the  State  Legislatures.  To  such  a 
course,  consistent  democracy  could  never  object. 

I  shall  advert  to  the  legitimate  modes  of  interpreting 
the  constitution  presently:  and  also  to  some  amendments 
which  the  exigency  of  the  times  loudly  demands. 

I  must  however  be  permitted  first  to  glance  at  a  few 
other  miscellaneous  topics,  which  properly  belong  to  the 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


303 


main  subject  of  this  discourse,  though  they  do  not  readily 
fall  into  any  precise  form  of  logical  arrangement. 

1.  “The  majority  govern.”  Tr.ue:  But  only  by  elect¬ 
ing  to  office  proper  men.  Not  by  governing  them  or 
dictating  to  them  when  so  elected.  They  are  then  to 
act  freely;  upon  their  own  responsibility;  according  to 
established  usage  and  principles;  in  the  honest  exercise 
of  their  judgment,  intelligence  and  wisdom:  without  fear, 
favour  or  affection.  They  are  amenable  only  to  the  laws, 
to  the  judicial  tribunals,  and  to  public  opinion.  If  the 
people  do  not  like  them,  they  will  not  vote  for  them 
again.  Nor  can  public  men,  that  is,  the  people’s  serv¬ 
ants,  justly  complain  when  they  are  turned  out,  or  rather 
left  out  of  office,  by  a  fair  legitimate  expression  of  the 
sovereign  will.  It  is  thus  that  the  majority  govern,  or 
ought  to  govern. 

Men  in  office — presidents,  governors,  judges,  legisla¬ 
tors —  are  the  officers,  magistrates  or  servants  of  the 
whole  body  of  the  people — of  opponents  as  well  as  par¬ 
tisans,  of  whigs  and  democrats.  All  are  obligated  to 
obey  and  to  respect  them,  in  their  appropriate  official 
capacity.  They  ought  then  to  be  above  party  influences, 
prejudices,  passions  and  interests. 

When  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  was  finally 
adopted  by  a  majority  of  the  people  of  each  State,  it  be¬ 
came  of  course  the  constitution  of  the  whole  republic. 
Its  adversaries,  even  those  wTho  had  been  most  fiercely 
hostile  to  it,  were  immediately  as  much  bound  by  its 
authority  as  were  its  authors  and  advocates.  Thus  it 
is  with  any  law  duly  enacted:  all  must  submit  to  it, 


304 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


whether  they  approve  it  or  not.  Every  open  or  de¬ 
batable  question  of  this  sort  is  determined  by  the  adop¬ 
tion  of  a  constitution,  by  the  passage  of  a  law,  bv  the 
ratification  of  a  treaty,  or  by  the  election  of  a  candidate. 

We  select  men  to  make  and  to  administer  the  laws  in 
our  stead  and  behalf,  upon  the  presumption  at  least,  that 
they  are  wiser  and  better  qualified  than  ourselves  for  the 
work: — just  as  we  choose  our  tailor  and  doctor.  Any 
attempt  to  teach  either  would  be  absurd. 

2.  Hence  the  doctrine  of  “ Popular  Instruction,”  as 
commonly  understood  and  practised,  is  unreasonable, 
contrary  to  the  genius  of  democracy,  and  a  direct  infrac¬ 
tion  of  individual  rights  and  personal  freedom.  When 
this  species  of  instruction  amounts  to  a  command,  it  is 
unconstitutional,  and  ought  to  be  disregarded.  Other¬ 
wise,  the  constitution  itself  becomes  a  mere  nose  of  wax, 
in  the  hands  of  the  wily  demagogue :  who  is  often  able 
to  flatter  and  wheedle  the  multitude  into  a  violation  of 
both  its  letter  and  spirit,  in  order  to  promote  his  own 
schemes  of  self-advancement.  There  is  something  ex¬ 
tremely  preposterous,  if  not  ludicrous,  in  the  very  idea 
of  a  county  or  district  assemblage  of  the  people,  hurrying 
through  the  approval  of  a  set  of  resolutions,  got  up  by 
some  cunning  scoundrel,  to  be  forthwith  despatched  to 
the  metropolis,  as  the  solemn,  elaborate  and  well-consid¬ 
ered  expression  of  all  the  wisdom  among  them ! 

3.  Nor  is  the  allied  doctrine  of  “  Legislative  instruc¬ 
tion  to  United  States  Senators” — requiring  them  to  obey 
or  to  resign — a  whit  more  democratic,  justifiable,  expe¬ 
dient,  wise  or  constitutional.  It  is  directly  subversive 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


305 


of  the  basis  or  principle  upon  which  that  body  was  organ¬ 
ized.  The  Senate  might  thus  be  converted  into  a  mere 
pliant  tool  of  the  Executive  or  of  any  prevailing  faction.* 

A  senator  is  not  merely  the  representative  of  his  own 
legislature  or  of  his  own  State.  He  is  bound  to  look  after 
and  to  promote  the  interests  of  all  the  States.  He  is  a 
national  legislator  or  statesman — appointed  to  make  laws 
for  the  whole  Union.  The  constitution  evidently  de¬ 
signed  that  the  Senate  should  be  equally  independent  of 
executive  influence  and  control  on  the  one  hand,  and  of 
popular  caprice,  passion,  prejudice,  on  the  other.  The 
legislature,  as  individuals,  simply  choose  the  senators; 
or  are  the  qualified  electors  of  senators;  and  afterwards 
have  nothing  more  to  do  with  them. 

The  final  draft  of  the  constitution, f  as  reported  to  the 
convention,  near  the  close  of  its  sessions,  by  the  commit¬ 
tee  of  five,  contained  a  section  providing  that  the  sena¬ 
tors  and  representatives  should  be  paid  by  their  respective 
States.  This  section  was  altered,  because,  as  it  was  ably 


*  “  The  small  number,  and  long  duration  of  the  Senate,  were  in¬ 
tended  to  render  them  a  safeguard  against  the  influence  of  those 
paroxysms  of  heat  and  passion,  which  prevail  occasionally  in  the  most 
enlightened  communities,  and  enter  into  the  deliberation  of  popular 
assemblies.  In  this  point  of  view,  a  firm  and  independent  Senate  is 
justly  regarded  as  an  anchor  of  safety  amidst  the  storms  of  political 
faction . The  characteristical  qualities  of  the  Senate,  in  the  intend¬ 

ment  of  the  constitution,  are  wisdom  and  stability.”  ( KenVs  Com., 
vol.  i.  p.  226.) 

•j-  This  draft  was  reported  August  6,  1781.  Article  6,  section  10, 
was  as  follows  :  “The  members  of  each  House  shall  receive  a  compen¬ 
sation  for  their  services,  to  be  ascertained  and  paid  by  the  State  in 
which  they  shall  be  chosen.”  (Yates,  p.  259.  “Secret  Debates.”) 

vol.  hi. — 20 


306  MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 

argued  by  Mr.  Carroll :  “  The  Senate  was  to  represent 
and  manage  the  affairs  of  the  whole  [Union,]  and  not  to 
be  the  advocates  of  State  interests.  They  ought  then  not 
to  be  dependent  on,  nor  paid  by  the  States.”*  This  is 
decisive  as  to  the  mind  of  the  venerable  patriots  who 
formed  the  constitution. 

The  welfare  of  Maine  ought  to  be  just  as  safe  in  the 
hands  of  a  senator  from  Tennessee,  as  in  those  of  her 
own  members.  A  senator  is  the  agent  or  minister  of 
his  own  State,  only  in  reference  to  purely  local  interests. 
About  these  local  interests,  he  will  procure  all  needed 
information  from  the  proper  sources;  and  then  act  freely, 
according  to  his  best  judgment,  without  any  undue  com¬ 
placency  towards  his  constituents,  and  for  the  manifest 
good  of  the  entire  confederacy. 

The  instructions  or  commands  of  a  hundred  men,  com¬ 
posing  a  State  legislature,  are  neither  more  valuable  nor 
more  authoritative,  than  similar  instructions  proceeding 
from  any  other  hundred  equally  intelligent  citizens.  The 
members  of  a  State  legislature  were  not  chosen  by  the 
people  to  serve  as  the  prompters,  guides  or  masters  of 
the  United  States  senators.  Under  the  federal  constitu¬ 
tion,  they  perform  a  single  function,  of  the  same  kind 
and  in  similar  form,  as  do  the  electors  of  President  and 
Vice-President.  The  senators,  thenceforward,  are,  to  all 
intents  and  purposes,  just  as  independent  of  their  control 
and  supervision,  as  is  the  Executive  independent  of  the 
electoral  colleges.  The  senators,  indeed,  have  as  much 
right  and  as  good  reason  to  instruct  State  legislators,  as 


*  Madison  Papers,  vol.  iii.  p.  1329. 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


307 


have  the  latter  to  instruct  them.  They  are  no  more 
responsible  to  a  State  legislature  than  to  the  emperor 
of  China. 

For  treason,  for  official  misdemeanors  or  malversation, 
for  any  criminal  offence,  a  senator  may  be  expelled,  im¬ 
peached  or  prosecuted  and  tried,  as  the  law  directs. 
Agreeably  to  a  prevalent  delusion,  or  perversion  of  con¬ 
stitutional  principle,  he  is  the  mere  creature  of  each 
successive  popular  State  election ;  and  may  be  ousted 
every  year,  or  at  every  meeting  of  the  legislature.  Thus 
the  Senate  is  rendered  a  less  stable,  a  more  changeable, 
dependent,  and  far  less  trustworthy  body,  than  the  lower 
house  of  Congress.  This  heresy,  under  the  plea  or  pre¬ 
text  of  the  “largest  democracy  rule,”  is  sapping  the  very 
foundations  of  the  government,  and  preparing  the  way  for 
the  one  man  usurper  of  all  power.  The  whole  affair,  after 
all,  is,  under  another  aspect,  a  most  egregious  humbug. 
While  the  people  seem  to  direct,  instruct  and  command 
their  so-called  servants  in  high  places,  they  or  the  legis¬ 
lature  are  used  as  the  mere  instrument  of  whipping  into 
the  traces  such  of  them  as  are  of  doubtful  faith :  and 
under  a  show  of  instruction,  they  present  a  naked  test 
of  their  loyalty  to  king  Party.  The  instruction  of  sena¬ 
tors  is  all  a  farce.  Concerning  a  thousand  matters  of 
greatest  magnitude,  they  never  exercise  a  thought,  nor 
attempt  interference.  Their  sole  object  is  to  secure  abso¬ 
lute  passive  obedience  to  the  dictation  of  the  reigning 
chief — be  his  policy  or  measures  what  they  may.  And 
the  whole  lesson  might  always  be  conveyed  in  two  words, 
namely:  “Obey  orders.” 


308 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


When  a  candidate  has  promised,  as  a  condition  of  ac¬ 
cepting  office,  to  ohey  or  resign,  he  is  of  course  bound 
by  his  promise.  He  ought  in  good  faith  to  redeem  his 
pledge.  His  error  lay  in  making  the  promise. 

4.  a Freedom  of  opinion.”  What  is  it?  How  to  be 
exercised?  Have  I  not  a  right  to  express  my  opinions 
on  all  subjects?  Yes:  but  not  the  right  to  infringe  the 
equal  rights  of  other  persons.  I  claim  the  right  to  think, 
believe,  speculate,  speak,  write,  publish— as  I  please;  so 
that  I  do  injury  or  injustice  to  none.  I  concede  the 
same  right  to  others.  I  dictate  to  no  man.  I  require 
no  one  to  obey  my  dictum.  Let  him  examine  and  judge 
for  himself.  Remember  Charles  V.  and  his  watches.  He 
could  never  succeed  in  making  any  two  go  alike. 

5.  “  State  Rights.”  These  are  not  antagonistical  with 
the  rights  of  the  General  Government.  Both  govern¬ 
ments  are  equally  the  creatures  of  the  people.  This  is 
evident  from  their  origin,  nature,  province,  duties,  pre¬ 
rogatives.  Why  this  everlasting  jealousy  and  hostility 
between  them?  There  is  no  more  reason  why  a  State 
legislature  should  meddle  with  Congress,  than  why  the 
latter  should  meddle  with  the  former.  What  would 
Tennessee  say,  were  Congress  to  send  to  her  legislature 
instructions,  advice,  directions  or  commands? 

We  have  committed  our  national  affairs  to  one  class 
of  servants,  and  our  State  affairs  to  another.  They 
were  designed  to  move  and  act  harmoniously  in  dif¬ 
ferent  spheres :  and  they  need  never  jostle  or  disturb 
one  another.  Each  Tennesseean  is  as  much  a  citizen 
of  the  United  States  as  he  is  of  Tennessee:  and  he  ought 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


309 


to  feel  as  deep  an  interest  in  the  former  as  in  the  latter. 
I  have  been  a  good  while  a  tolerably  calm  “  looker-on 
here  in  Vienna  and  I  have  noticed,  among  other 
curious  anomalies  and  inconsistencies,  this  in  particular, 
namely:  That  the  very  men  who  clamour  most  loudly 
about  State  rights,  are  totally  absorbed  in  national  poli¬ 
tics.  They  declaim,  intrigue  and  labour  only  for  national 
offices  in  expectancy.  Every  state,  county,  city  and  town 
election  is  made  to  turn  upon  national  politics.  They 
cannot  choose  a  governor,  constable,  clerk  or  alderman, 
except  upon  the  ground  of  national  politics — nor  bank 
directors  either.  Every  candidate,  of  every  degree,  must 
publish  his  creed  upon  national  politics.  The  people  are 
taught  to  think  of  nothing  else.  The  legislature,  when 
in  session  or  when  out,  do  little  else  than  discuss  national 
politics.  All  our  State  legislatures  are  but  so  many  drill- 
shops  for  the  manufacture  of  political  capital  for  national 
office -hunters.  In  fact,  the  entire  machinery  of  every 
State  is  but  a  part  of  the  great  national  apparatus — - 
turned,  twisted  and  worked  exclusively  for  the  benefit 
of  your  zealous  States’  rights  men;  who  care  not  a  fig  for 
the  State;  and  whose  sole  ambition,  after  all  their  blus¬ 
tering  parade,  is  to  figure  upon  the  national  theatre  and 
to  become  national  rulers. 

Here  is  ample  room  for  democratic  and  whig  reforma¬ 
tion.  Let  our  farmers  and  mechanics  put  an  end  to  this 
foolery,  by  electing  men  to  State  offices  who  have,  and 
who  shall  be  permitted  to  have,  no  ulterior  aim — no  eye 

*  "A  looker-on  here  in  Vienna.”  (Shakspeare’s  Measure  for 
Measure. 


310 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


upon  the  empty  national  treasury  vaults — no  longing 
after  the  national  loaves  and  fishes — who  will  let  na¬ 
tional  politics  alone,  and  honestly  devote  themselves  to 
the  proper  affairs  of  their  own  State.  If  the  people  do 
not  approve  the  acts  of  the  federal  government,  their 
remedy  is  found  at  the  polls;  namely,  in  the  election 
of  better  men  to  compose  the  federal  government.  Or 
if  they  deem  a  law  of  Congress  unconstitutional,  let  them 
try  conclusions  before  the  legitimate  tribunal  provided 
by  the  constitution.  And,  if  not  satisfied  with  the  re¬ 
sult,  let  them  seek  an  amendment  of  the  constitution; 
and  thus  conform  it  to  their  wishes.  This  is  all  they 
can  do.  And  what  more  need  they  desire?  The  legis¬ 
lature  cannot  nullify  a  law  of  Congress  nor  repudiate  its 
authority.  Nor  can  they  resist;  except  in  the  way  of 
treason,  rebellion  or  revolution. 

It  is  abundantly  humiliating  to  know  that  all  our 
troubles  and  conflicts  on  this  score  have  arisen  from 
the  subtle  policy  and  daring  misrepresentations  of  a  few 
most  abandoned  reprobate  traitors  to  the  cause  of  democ¬ 
racy,  who  have  conspired  to  overturn  the  fair  fabric  of 
constitutional  government  altogether,  rather  than  fail  to 
become  its  imperial  masters.  But  for  these  restless  wicked 
spirits,  the  people  would  never  have  exhibited  a  symp¬ 
tom  of  discontent  upon  this  one  point  at  least.  For, 
among  all  the  evils  of  a  vicious  government,  this  par¬ 
ticular  form  of  it  has  been  happily  escaped.  Always 
excepting  the  Broad  Seal  affair  of  New  Jersey. 

6.  “ Political  Test.”  “No  religious  test  shall  ever  be 
required  as  a  qualification  to  any  office  or  public  trust 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


311 


under  the  United  States.”  Thus  reads  the  last  clause 
of  article  6  [section  3]  of  the  constitution.  By  what 
authority  do  we  prescribe  a  political  test  for  the  same 
offices?  What  would  you  say,  were  one  of  the  States  to 
ordain  by  its  constitution  or  by  statute,  that  office-holders 
should  swear  or  subscribe  to  a  religious  formula,  declar¬ 
ing  man  to  be  a  mere  machine — destitute  of  free-will  or 
the  power  of  voluntary  action?  Now  you  virtually,  nay 
in  terms,  prescribe  this  very  condition  to  your  political 
candidates,  without  law  and  in  spite  of  the  constitution. 
You  command  them  in  all  things  to  speak  and  act  as  the 
veriest  machines  imaginable.  They  are  but  as  clay  in 
the  hands  of  the  potter — to  be  moulded  into  any  form, 
and  to  be  used  for  any  purpose. 

7.  “  Independence.  Liberty.”  These  terms,  of  widely 
different  import,  are  often  confounded,  or  regarded  as 
synonymous  by  Americans.  It  should  never  be  forgot¬ 
ten  that  the  revolutionary  struggle  was  commenced  sim¬ 
ply  to  repel  aggression,  and  to  assert  our  constitutional 
rights  as  Englishmen.  Our  complete  national  independ¬ 
ence  was  soon  afterwards  declared  and  eventually  estab¬ 
lished.  And  thus  resulted  a  very  important  change  both 
of  the  name  and  form  of  our  government.  As  wre  had 
never  been  slaves  in  any  sense;  and  as,  on  the  whole, 
we  appear  to  have  been  tolerably  loyal  and  contented 
subjects  of  his  Britannic  majesty,  down  to  the  passage 
by  Parliament  of  the  famous  Stamp  Act;  experience 
must  decide  how  much  additional  freedom  has  been 
gained  by  the  change.  National  independence  and  civil 
liberty  are  totally  different  things.  Kussia,  Austria, 


312 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


France,  Spain — are  as  independent  as  the  United  States. 
Mexico  and  South  America  have  recently  become  inde¬ 
pendent  also — and  so  has  Belgium.  Whether,  in  any  of 
the  latter,  the  people  have  acquired  more  personal  or 
political  liberty  than  they  possessed  before,  is  at  least 
questionable.  The  worst  species  of  iniquitous  tyranny 
may  be  inflicted  by  a  republican  or  democratic  govern¬ 
ment.  And  a  large  measure  of  individual  liberty  may 
be  enjoyed  under  a  monarchy,  and  even  under  the  most 
absolute  despotism.  Our  Fourth  of  July  and  stump  ora¬ 
tors  would  do  well  to  keep  this  distinction  in  view.  They 
do  injustice  to  our  free-born  ancestors  by  representing 
them  as  slaves :  and  their  indiscriminate  laudation  of 
everything  American  is  calculated  to  mislead  and  to 
inflate  the  present  generation.  That  we  are  the  freest, 
happiest,  most  enlightened  and  virtuous  people  on  earth, 
may  be  true.  Our  pertinacious  and  everlasting  reiterar 
tion  of  the  fact,  however,  will  not  render  it  the  more 
credible  or  the  more  attractive  in  the  estimation  of 
others.  If  foreigners  were  to  judge  from  our  news¬ 
papers,  and  from  speeches  in  Congress  and  in  the  State 
legislatures,  they  would  probably  infer  that  we  are  about 
the  worst  governed  people  in  the  world.  And  assuredly, 
if  one  half  of  the  miseries  complained  of,  really  exist,  we 
might  with  good  reason  envy  the  happy  lot  of  the  Turk 
and  the  Russian. 

Again:  National  independence  does  not  imply  or  in¬ 
sure  personal  independence.  It  has  been  often  remarked 
that  Americans  have  less  manly  independence  of  charac¬ 
ter  than  is  observable  in  some  European  countries.  That, 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


313 


though  nominally  and  legally  free,  yet  that  'public  opin¬ 
ion  is  omnipotent  over  the  land;  that  none  dare  oppose 
it,  or  can  successfully  resist  it.  Everybody  is  governed 
by  party  or  sect.  Hence,  no  man  will  be  sustained  or 
countenanced  bv  numbers,  who  does  not  surrender  his 
own  mind  to  their  control.  Hence  the  paucity  of  orig¬ 
inal  thinkers  among  us.  Hence  the  universality  of  party 
or  sectarian  tyranny.  Hence  the  general  absence  of 
moral  courage.  Hence  the  mortifying  fact,  that  while 
we  have  innumerable  talented  busy  politicians,  we  have 
no  thorough-bred,  honest,  uncompromising,  heroic  states¬ 
men.  The  latter  have  no  field,  no  scope,  no  opportunity 
to  exhibit  or  exert  their  faculties.  There  is  no  market 
—no  demand  for  them.  They  are  not  tolerated  among 
us.  Let  any  high-minded  patriot,  with  the  integrity  of 
Moses  and  Aristides,  combined  with  the  wisdom  of  a 
Solomon  and  a  Franklin,  attempt  to  pursue  a  straight¬ 
forward  course  for  the  sole  benefit  of  the  whole  repub¬ 
lic;  and  he  will  soon  find  himself  checked,  embarrassed, 
silenced,  by  the  tortuous  and  blighting  policy  of  a  domi¬ 
neering  party  spirit,  on  either  hand.  He  can  find  no 
independent  foothold — no  single  resting-place  upon  which 
to  plant  his  mighty  lever.  He  must  either  retire  from 
the  service  altogether,  or  enlist  as  a  partisan  against  his 
better  judgment;  and  thus  be  compelled  to  give  to  party 
what  was  meant  for  mankind. 

8.  “The  States  not  severally  independent.’'  “The 
States  never  possessed  the  essential  rights  of  sove¬ 
reignty.  These  were  always  vested  in  Congress.”  .  .  . 
“The  States  ought  to  be  placed  under  the  control  of 


314 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


the  General  Government;  at  least  as  much  so  as  they 
formerly  were  under  the  King  and  British  Parlia¬ 
ment.”* 

The  States,  at  this  moment,  possess  not  a  single  attri¬ 
bute  of  sovereignty.  They  cannot  declare  war  or  make 
peace.  They  cannot  commission  nor  receive  foreign 
ambassadors;  nor  form  treaties  or  alliances.  They  can¬ 
not  coin  money,  nor  emit  bills  of  credit.  They  cannot 
maintain  armies  or  navies.  They  cannot  regulate  their 
own  commerce,  nor  impose  duties  on  goods  imported  or 
exported. 

9.  “  Conscience.”  No  public  man  ought  ever  to  make 
his  own  conscience  the  guide,  standard  or  test  of  his 
actions.  The  constitution  and  law  of  the  land  are  to 
regulate  his  official  conduct.  The  constitution  and  the 
laws,  namely,  as  understood  and  explained  by  the  legiti¬ 
mate  authorities  and  tribunals: — not  as  his  own  little, 
all-sufficient,  infallible,  one-sided  conscience  may  happen 
to  dictate.  He  should  be  conscientious,  indeed,  in  going 
by  the  established  rule — not  in  creating  the  rule  itself, 
nor  in  modifying  it  to  suit  his  conscience.  One  wrong¬ 
headed,  conscientiously  obstinate  man  may  do  more  harm 
in  office,  than  a  hundred  rogues,  who  neither  have,  nor 
pretend  to  have,  any  conscience  at  all.  Beware  of  men 
who  boast  of  their  conscience,  or  who  plead  conscience 
on  all  occasions  and  for  all  their  measures.  They  will 
be  very  apt  to  enact  the  Judas  or  Arnold ,  the  Dominic 
or  Robespierre ,  sooner  or  later. 

*  Madison’s  Speech  before  the  Convention.  See  Yates’  Notes,  etc. 
pp.  199,  200. 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


315 


10.  “My  own  position  defined.”  Here  I  add  a  remark 
personal  and  apologetic.  I  never,  on  any  occasion,  in 
public  or  in  private,  abuse  or  denounce  sects,  parties, 
classes,  communities  or  professions,  in  the  gross.  I  cen¬ 
sure  and  condemn  only  the  wicked,  dishonest  and  hypo¬ 
critical  of  all  sects  and  parties.  If  any  such  choose  to 
apply  my  hard  ivords  to  themselves  or  to  others,  it  is 
their  own  affair — not  mine.  With  the  persecuting,  nar¬ 
row,  bigoted,  intolerant,  exclusive  spirit  of  party  and 
sectarism,  I  make  no  terms.  For  this  evil  spirit,  I 
cherish  no  sentiment  of  approval  or  respect.  Towards 
fair-dealing  individuals  of  all  parties  and  denominations, 
I  cheerfully  extend  the  right-hand  of  fellowship  and 
good-will. 

Nor  do  I  claim  to  be  exempt  from,  or  above  the  reach 
of,  religious  or  political  prejudice  or  preference.  If  I  am 
a  democrat,  I  ought  at  least  to  be  a  good  democratic 
American :  and  if  my  neighbour  whig  is  a  good  whig 
American,  why  may  we  not  live  in  peace  and  charity 
as  Americans?  If  I  happen,  by  birth  or  education  or 
choice,  to  be  a  Presbyterian  :  need  I  therefore  vex  my 
brother,  because,  for  the  same  or  better  reasons,  he  is 
a  Methodist?  If  wre  are  both  honest  Christians,  why 
should  we  quarrel  about  names  or  forms  or  meta¬ 
physics  ? 

Again:  Though  I  cannot  say  as  some  have  done,  “I 
never  seek  and  never  refuse  office;”  I  may  truly  say, 
that  I  have  never  sought  office,  and  that  office  has  never 
sought  me.  What  I  would  say,  were  a  right  good  lucra¬ 
tive  or  honourable  public  office  fairly  offered  me,  will  be 


316’ 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


better  known  when  the  critical  emergency  for  so  grievous 
a  trial  shall  occur. 

Our  farmers  and  mechanics  are  wise  men:  and  “a 
word  to  the  wise”  is  “as  a  nail  in  a  sure  place.”  (Isa. 
xxii.  23.) 

In  the  mean  time,  that  is,  while  the  farmers  and 
mechanics  are  deliberating;  I  proceed,  as  heretofore,  to 
speak  plainly  of  men  and  measures. 


AMERICAN  DEMOCRACY. 


PART  SECOND. 

The  Federal  Constitution.  How  to  be  interpreted. 
The  meaning  of  the  constitution  is  to  be  ascertained: 
1.  From  the  letter  of  the  text  and  context.  2.  From 
the  animus  imjoonentis — from  the  mind  of  the  sages  who 
framed  the  instrument;  and  from  contemporaneous  ex¬ 
positions.  3.  From  the  acts  of  Congress,  which  have 
been  acquiesced  in  by  the  people  without  question  or 
objection — i.e.  long  usage  unopposed  and  undisputed. 
4.  From  decisions  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United 
States  in  doubtful  and  litigated  cases.  In  these  several 
ways  we  arrive  at  the  gradual  development  and  certain 
interpretation  of  this  grand  national  charter  of  delegated 
and  therefore  limited  powers. 

I  may  here  add,  that  quite  recently — within  a  few 
years  past — means  have  been  furnished  whereby  we 
may  learn  the  intention  of  the  original  authors  of  the 
constitution,  to  a  much  greater  extent  than  formerly. 
Since  the  publication  of  numerous  recorded  documents 
by  order  of  Congress — especially  the  Secret  Journals  or 
Minutes  of  the  Convention  itself,  and  the  Madisonian 
Papers — together  with  the  “  Secret  Proceedings  and  De¬ 
bates  of  the  Convention,”  from  notes  taken  by  the  late 
Robert  Yates  of  New  York,  who  was  a  member  of  the 

t31D 


318"  MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 

Convention — we  are  enabled  to  enter  pretty  fully  into 
the  entire  train  of  thought  and  reasoning  which  led  to 
the  final  adoption  of  almost  every  article,  section  and 
clause  of  the  constitution.  These,  in  connexion  with 
the  elaborate  essays  of  Hamilton,  Jay  and  Madison  in 
the  *•'  Federalist,”  afford  a  very  lucid  commentary,  or  use¬ 
ful  guide  to  the  impartial  student  of  constitutional  law: 
and  he  will  seldom  he  left  in  the  dark  upon  any  title  or 
subject.  Such  an  instrument  cannot  be  construed  with¬ 
out  aids  of  this  description.  We  must  be  acquainted 
with  our  previous  history — with  the  old  confederation — 
with  the  precise  difficulties  which  led  to  the  Convention 
of  1787 — with  the  various  complex  and  conflicting  inter¬ 
ests  to  be  therein  adjusted — with  the  spirit  of  compro¬ 
mise  and  conciliation  which  was  brought  to  bear  upon 
the  work — with  the  diverse  plans  submitted  by  eminent 
individuals — with  the  arguments  urged  pro  and  con — 
and  lastly,  with  the  motives  and  considerations  which 
ultimately  prevailed  in  each  particular  case. 

Whether  our  distinguished  jurists  and  learned  exposi¬ 
tors  of  the  constitution  would  have  decided  or  written 
otherwise  than  they  have  done,  had  the  above-mentioned 
documents  been  published  a  half  century  earlier — is  not  a 
question  for  me  to  answer.  Possibly,  a  different  opinion, 
in  a  few  instances,  would  have  been  expressed.  Thus, 
Chancellor  Kent  might  have  varied  his  phraseology  con¬ 
cerning  the  mode  by  which  the  constitution  intended 
that  United  States  senators  should  be  chosen  by  the 
State  legislatures,  had  he  read  the  debates  upon  the  sub¬ 
ject  as  reported  by  Mr.  Madison.  From  him  it  clearly 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


319 


appears  that  the  Convention  had  in  mind  nothing  more 
than  to  provide  or  agree  upon  a  competent  body  or  col¬ 
lege  of  electors  for  this  single  purpose — namely,  of  choos¬ 
ing  senators.  And  that,  of  course,  the  members  were  to 
vote  as  individuals  or  per  capita ;  and  not  that  the  elec¬ 
tion  was  to  be  a  formal  act  of  legislation  in  the  technical 
sense,  like  the  passage  of  a  law.  As  in  the  latter  case, 
one  House  would  have  a  negative  upon  the  other:  and 
the  governor,  in  some  States,  might  veto  the  act  of  both. 
In  either  dilemma,  it  would  be  impossible  to  elect  at  all. 

The  Supreme  Court  of  the  Union,  I  have  said,  is  the 
only  tribunal  to  decide  finally  and  in  the  last  resort,  all 
controversies  arising  under  the  constitution  or  about  the 
constitutionality  of  any  law  of  Congress.  I  do  not  mean 
however  to  intimate  that  every  such  decision  must  of 
necessity  be  righteous,  or  the  best  possible.  It  is,  never¬ 
theless,  law  for  the  time  being,  and  must  be  obeyed.  If 
we  do  not  like  it,  we  must  so  amend  the  constitution  as 
to  prevent  a  recurrence  of  the  evil  in  future.  This  is 
a  remedy  or  preventive  always  at  the  command  of  the 
sovereign  people.  And  they  should  never  permit  real 
grievances  to  remain  long  unredressed. 

The  New  Englanders  did  not  approve  the  indefinite 
or  perpetual  embargo  act  of  Congress  under  Mr.  Jeffer¬ 
son.  They  pronounced  the  law  unconstitutional. — Ap¬ 
pealed  to  the  courts — lost  their  cause  —  and  submitted 
with  what  grace  they  might.  Here  the  matter  ended. 
Had  they  proceeded  further,  their  next  legal  step  would 
have  been,  to  procure  such  an  amendment  of  the  consti¬ 
tution  as  should  restrain  Congress  from  laying  embargoes 


320 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


for  more  than  thirty  or  sixty  days  at  a  time — or  for  some 
other  short  definite  period. 

I  proceed  to  specify  a  case  or  two  wherein  the  actual 
construction  of  the  constitution  has  proved  inequitable 
or  injurious,  with  a  view  to  illustrate  the  kind  of  amel¬ 
iorating  process  which  must  be  resorted  to  in  order  to 
avoid  similar  evils  in  future. 

Case  1st.  Preference  of  the  United  States  over  other  cred¬ 
itors.  “Congress  have  declared  by  law,  that  the  United 
States  were  entitled  to  priority  of  payment  over  private 
creditors,  in  cases  of  insolvency,  and  in  the  distribution 
of  the  estates  of  deceased  debtors.”  (. Kent .)  And  the 
courts  have  decreed  accordingly.  The  same  preference 
is  claimed  under  the  present  Bankrupt  Act;*  and,  no 
doubt,  the  courts  will  sustain  the  law.  Here,  I  think, 
both  the  law  and  the  judicial  decisions  are  unjust — 
though  not  expressly  prohibited  by  the  constitution. 
In  this  instance,  as  in  some  others,  we  have  followed 
a  bad  precedent — as  the  modern  feudal  sovereigns  of 
Europe  probably  folloAved  the  usage  of  ancient  Bome.f 
In  England,  as  on  the  continent,  the  king  is  or  was  the 
sole  fountain  of  law,  honour,  title  and  privilege.  Debts 
to  the  government  were  debts  to  the  king — were  sued 

*  Passed  in  August,  1841;  took  effect  February  2,  1842.  Was 
repealed  during  the  session  of  Congress  of  1842-3. 

j-  “The  government  was  a  privileged  creditor  under  the  Roman 
law,  and  entitled  to  priority  in  the  payment  of  debts.  The  cessio 
bonorum  was  made  subject  to  this  priority.  This  is  generally  the 
case,  in  all  modern  bankrupt  and  insolvent  laws.  In  England,  the 
king’s  claim  is  preferred  to  that  of  a  subject,  provided  the  king’s 
process  was  commenced  before  the  subject  had  obtained  judgment.” 
{Kent,  vol.  i.  p.  241.) 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


321 


for  in  his  name — and  to  him  was  accorded  precedency 
in  this  as  in  all  other  matters.  But  with  us,  the  sove¬ 
reign  is  the  people.  And  why  the  people  collectively, 
as  the  government,  should  arrogate,  or  be  allowed,  pref¬ 
erence  to  the  widow  and  orphan  in  all  cases  or  in  any 
case,  is  not  quite  apparent. 

Should  a  rogue  happen  to  enjoy  the  special  confidence 
of  the  government  and  be  largely  trusted — as  in  the  case 
of  a  collector  of  the  customs,  for  example — he  would, 
from  this  very  circumstance,  be  regarded  by  his  neigh¬ 
bours  and  the  public  as  a  very  safe,  solvent,  responsible 
personage.  They  too  would  freely  trust  him.  He  fails. 
His  assets  are  seized  by  the  government.  And  all  other 
creditors,  however  poor,  weak,  ignorant  or  helpless  they 
may  be,  are  excluded  from  all  hope  or  chance  of  ever 
getting  a  dollar.  Now  since  the  courts  have  sustained 
Congress  in  their  royal  mode  of  expounding  the  constitu¬ 
tion — in  this  assumption  of  powers  not  expressly  granted 
— I  would  respectfully  recommend  to  the  proper  authori¬ 
ties  to  set  about  the  work  of  amending  the  constitution, 
so  as  to  put  an  end  to  the  injustice  and  oppression.  I 
would  give  private  creditors — certainly  the  poorest  of 
them — at  least  an  equal  or  pro  rata  chance  with  the 
government,  if  not  a  better.  The  government — that  is, 
fifteen  millions  of  people — could  lose  a  few  thousand 
dollars,  with  far  less  inconvenience  or  positive  suffering, 
than  many  a  widow  or  labourer  would  be  subjected  to 
by  the  loss  of  ten  or  five  dollars. 

Case  2d.  The  nomination  and  appointment  of  public 
officers  by  the  President.  “And  he  [the  President]  shall 
vol.  hi. — 21 


322  MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 

nominate,  and  by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of 
the  Senate,  shall  appoint  ambassadors,  other  public  min¬ 
isters  and  consuls,  judges  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and  all 
other  officers  of  the  United  States,  whose  appointments 
are  not  herein  otherwise  provided  for,  and  which  shall 
be  established  by  law :  but  the  Congress  may  by  law  vest 
the  appointment  of  such  inferior  officers  as  they  think 
proper,  in  the  President  alone,  in  the  courts  of  law,  or 
in  the  heads  of  departments.”  ( Constitution ,  Article  II., 
Sec.  2,  2.) 

“The  President,  Vice-President  and  all  civil  officers 
of  the  United  States  shall  be  removed  from  office  on 
impeachment  for,  and  conviction  of,  treason,  bribery,  or 
other  high  crimes  and  misdemeanors.”  ( Ibid .,  Sec.  4, 1.) 

“The  judges,  both  of  the  supreme  and  inferior  courts, 
shall  hold  their  offices  during  good  behaviour.”  (Art.  III., 
Sec.  1, 1.) 

“The  President  shall  be  commander-in-chief  of  the 
army  and  navy  of  the  United  States,  and  of  the  militia 
of  the  several  States,  when  called  into  the  actual  service 
of  the  United  States.”  (Art.  II.,  Sec.  2,  1.) 

Thus,  by  the  constitution,  the  appointment  of  an  im¬ 
mensely  large  number  of  public  officers  is  vested  in  the 
President, — “with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Senate.” 
He  nominates,  but  cannot  absolutely  or  finally  appoint, 
except  by  a  concurrence  of  the  Senate.  No  period  of 
time  or  other  condition  for  the  tenure  of  office  is  speci¬ 
fied  in  regard  to  any,  except  the  judges,  who  hold  during 
good  behaviour.  Nor  is  any  mode  of  dismissal  or  ejec¬ 
tion  from  office  prescribed,  except  by  impeachment.  The 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


323 


language  and  tenor  of  the  constitution  would  seem  to 
imply,  that  all  officers  appointed  by  or  through  the 
agency  of  the  Senate,  could  be  deprived  of  office  only 
by  the  same  direct  agency  of  the  Senate.  Such  was  the 
exposition  of  the  Federalist.  (No.  77,  by  Hamilton.) 

“In  the  act  for  establishing  the  treasury  department, 
[1789,]  the  Secretary  was  contemplated  as  being  remov¬ 
able  from  office  by  the  President.  The  words  of  the  act 
are,  ‘that  whenever  the  Secretary  shall  be  removed  from 
office  by  the  President  of  the  United  States/  etc.  This 
amounted  to  a  legislative  construction  of  the  constitution, 
and  it  has  ever  since  been  acquiesced  in  and  acted  upon, 
as  of  decisive  authority  in  the  case.”  ( Kent ,  vol.  i.  p.  310.) 
And,  it  may  be  added,  in  the  case  of  all  other  officers. 
The  President  therefore  has  been  considered  as  invested 
with  plenary  power  to  remove  at  pleasure:  and  he  has 
ever  since  exercised  the  power  at  his  own  discretion — 
without  reference  to  the  Senate. 

Now,  whether  this  discretionary  exercise  of  sovereign 
power  be  strictly  constitutional  and  legal  or  not,  I  shall 
not  pronounce.  But  that  it  is  radically  anti-democratic, 
inexpedient  and  dangerous,  I  do  not  hesitate  to  affirm. 
It  is  a  power,  for  good  or  evil,  with  which  no  man  in  a 
republic  ought  to  be  invested.  As  the  usage  now  is, 
the  President  may  virtually  appoint,  and  without  cause 
assigned,  may  summarily  dismiss,  all  foreign  ministers 
and  consuls;  all  heads  of  departments,  with  their  subor¬ 
dinates  of  every  degree;  all  postmasters  and  their  assist¬ 
ants;  all  collectors  of  ports  and  custom-house  officials; 
all  United  States  marshals  and  attorneys;  all  governors 


324 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS, 


and  other  officers  of  territories;  all  agents,  of  whatever 
name,  employed  among  the  Indians,  or  about  the  public 
lands,  arsenals,  armories,  light -houses,  ship -yards,  and 
other  national  establishments;  all  military  and  naval 
officers;  and  a  host  of  others,  “too  tedious  to  mention.” 
He  also  appoints  all  the  United  States  judges :  and  he 
may  convert  even  these  high  and  holy  offices  into  pre¬ 
miums  for  base  party  or  personal  devotion.  True,  he 
cannot  turn  them  out.  And  there  is  always  hope  that 
a  once  obsequious  Attorney-General  or  dashing  Secretary 
of  the  Treasury  may,  when  raised  to  the  Bench,  prove  a 
second  Hale  or  Mansfield.  Or  that  “an  honest  sinner 
may  become  an  honest  saint.” 

In  time  of  peace  even,  the  President  maintains,  in 
absolute  dependence  on  his  will,  a  vast  array  of  regu¬ 
lar  forces,  occupying  the  most  prominent  positions  and 
strongholds  in  every  part  of  the  nation,  ready  to  do  his 
bidding,  and  to  labour  for  his  re-election  or  for  the  ad¬ 
vancement  of  his  designated  successor.  He  is  also  com¬ 
mander-in-chief  of  the  army  and  navy  of  the  United 
States,  and  of  the  militia  of  the  several  States,  when 
actually  called  [by  himself]  into  the  service  of  the 
Union.  With  such  unlimited,  irresponsible,  regal  pre¬ 
rogatives  and  powers :  what  security  can  we  have  for 
our  liberties?  How  long  may  we  rely  on  the  integrity, 
wisdom  and  patriotism  of  the  President? — with  such 
potent  engines  at  command,  and  with  such  dazzling 
temptations  to  their  abuse  ever  before  his  eyes?  Can 
we  presume  that  every  President  will  prove  a  Wash¬ 
ington?  Let  history  instruct  us. 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


325 


The  true  theory  is,  to  deal  with  honest  men  as  if  they 
were,  or  might  be,  rogues. — To  intrust  no  public  officer 
with  the  means  of  doing  harm,  beyond  the  bare  necessities 
of  the  public  service.  I  doubt  whether  the  general  welfare 
of  the  republic  requires  that  the  President  should  appoint 
to  any  offices  whatever,  except  pro  tempore — certainly  to 
very  few  at  the  utmost.  While  he  ought  to  be  disabled 
from  removing  them  altogether — except  again  pro  tem¬ 
pore;  or  until  the  next  meeting  of  the  Senate.  Why 
not  give  to  the  Senate  the  power  of  both  appointing  to, 
and  displacing  from,  office?  But  why  grant  even  to  the 
Senate  the  power  of  appointing  so  great  a  multitude  of 
officers?  Some  of  them- — such  as  district  judges,  attor¬ 
neys,  marshals,  postmasters — might  be  appointed  by  the 
legislatures  of  the  several  States  in  which  they  reside; 
and  some  again  directly  by  the  people.  Why  not?  Can 
the  President,  or  any  functionary  at  Washington,  be 
more  competent  to  choose  such  officers  for  Tennessee, 
than  the  legislature  or  people  of  Tennessee?  Could  we 
not  choose  a  United  States  marshal  or  postmaster  as 
well  as  a  county  clerk  or  governor?  All  such  officers, 
however  chosen,  would  be  amenable  to  the  same  laws, 
and  subject  to  the  same  penalties  for  negligence  or  crime 
as  at  present.  They  would  then  feel  that  they  were 
freemen,  and  might  act  with  the  independence  of  free¬ 
men — without  dread  of  executive  frowns  and  terrors. 

I  have  long  marvelled  at  the  blindness  and  inconsist¬ 
ency  of  our  jealous  and  ultra  democracy,  who  sturdily 
contend  for  “the  largest  liberty”  principle,  and  yet  wink 
at  this  monstrous  monopoly  by  an  individual,  of  nearly 


32G 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


all  the  elective  franchises  of  the  nation.  The  people 
elect  the  members  of  one  house  of  Congress  directly: 
they  elect  the  President,  Vice-President  and  Senate  indi¬ 
rectly.  Beyond  this,  they  have  no  agency  whatever  in 
the  choice  of  their  national  rulers.  A  hundred  thousand 
executive  officers,  more  or  less,  are  commissioned  by  the 
President — are  removable  at  his  pleasure — and  are,  there¬ 
fore,  to  all  intents  and  purposes,  his  humble  servants. 
They  never  look  to  the  people  as  the  fountain  of  power 
and  honour.  They  care  not  a  straw  about  the  wishes, 
opinions,  or  interests  of  the  people. 

Then  as  to  the  Cabinet — the  heads  of  departments: 
who  and  what  are  they?  By  courtesy,  and  by  intend¬ 
ment  of  the  constitution,  they  are  the  President’s  legal 
advisers- — his  confidential  state  counsellors.  By  usage, 
they  are  the  mere  echo  of  his  royal  voice — as  they  are 
the  mere  creature  of  his  royal  prerogative.  They  receive 
orders;  and  construct  their  own  opinions,  that  is,  their 
advice,  accordingly.  They  were  designed,  no  doubt,  to 
occupy  the  most  dignified  stations  in  the  government; 
and  to  them  are  committed  the  most  important  interests 
of  the  nation.  The  President  is  presumed,  or  rather  was 
presumed  by  the  authors  of  the  constitution,  not  to  know 
all  things;  not  to  be  quite  omniscient;  not  always  even 
a  Solomon  or  a  Pericles,  a  Solon  or  a  Scipio,  a  Tully  or  a 
Cato,  a  Colbert  or  a  Sully,  a  Cecil  or  a  Pitt.  He  may  be 
ignorant  of  finance;  of  military  and  naval  affairs;  of  the 
post-office  details  and  complexities;  of  international,  con¬ 
stitutional  and  municipal  law;  and  even  of  our  foreign 
relations  and  domestic  condition.  What  are  his  secre- 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


0(T)^ 

Ol  i 


taries  good  for,  if  they  cannot  enlighten  him  with  their 
superior  knowledge?  Each  in  his  own  proper  sphere? 
And  about  matters  with  which,  from  mature  study  and 
experience,  they  are  supposed  to  be  perfectly  familiar? 
And  is  he  [the  President]  to  teach  and  to  direct  them ? 
Is  he  to  dictate  to  a  Hamilton  or  a  Gallatin  the  financial 
policy  of  this  mighty  republic?  and  to  turn  him  adrift, 
with  as  little  ceremony  as  he  would  a  footman,  if  he 
hesitate  to  yield  up  his  own  judgment  to  official  igno¬ 
rance,  obstinacy,  party  passion,  proscriptive  vengeance, 
or  conscientious,  impracticable,  mulish  stupidity?  Why 
should  the  members  of  a  cabinet  be  expected  to  agree 
with  one  another  or  with  the  President  upon  all  subjects 
or  upon  any  subject?  If  each  is  master  of  his  own  pro¬ 
fession,  and  if  he  discharge  his  duty  ably,  diligently,  faith¬ 
fully:  what  more  do  you  ask  of  him?  The  President 
is  not  bound  by  his  opinion  or  advice  upon  matters  of 
general  policy,  nor  even  upon  those  of  his  own  depart¬ 
ment.  Suppose  each  were  to  deliver  a  different  opinion 
upon  an  important  question  submitted  to  their  considera¬ 
tion.  The  President  may  do  as  Washington  did,  receive 
their  opinions  kindly,  weigh  them  thoroughly,  make  up 
his  own  independently,  and  decide  differently  from  them 
all  at  last;  and  differently  too  from  what  would  have 
been  his  decision,  without  their  aid  and  apparently  con¬ 
flicting  counsels.  To  talk  of  constitutional  advisers,  who 
dare  not  speak  their  own  thoughts  or  give  an  honest 
opinion,  who  are  the  mere  passive  recipients  of  a  mas¬ 
ter  s  arbitrary  mandates,  is  a  contradiction,  a  farce,  a 
perversion  of  the  whole  order  of  the  constitution,  and 


328 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


of  all  democratic  common  sense.  No  high-minded  man 
will  ever  consent  to  be  made  a  slave  like  this.  He  will 
indignantly  throw  up  his  commission,  return  home,  and 
plough  his  own  cornfield,  rather  than  wear  the  livery 
and  the  chains  of  any  despot  upon  the  throne  or  of  his 
prompter  from  behind  it! 

The  heads  of  departments  ought  to  be  as  independent 
of  the  President,  as  he  is  of  them — so  far,  at  least,  as  re¬ 
spects  official  conduct.  For  this,  each  should  be  directly 
and  individually  responsible  to  the  laws  and  proper  tri¬ 
bunals. 

Even  the  sovereign  of  Great  Britain  cannot  choose,  or 
keep  in  office,  a  ministry  whom  the  people,  by  their  Com¬ 
mons,  do  not  like.  There  the  will  of  the  people  is  para¬ 
mount,  and  it  always  prevails.  An  unpopular  minister, 
that  is,  a  minister  unsupported  by  the  people  in  Parlia¬ 
ment  assembled,  is  obliged  forthwith  to  resign.  And  the 
king  or  queen  is  compelled  to  commission  the  people’s 
favourite,  however  disagreeable  or  even  odious  to  majesty 
he  may  be.  Here  the  President  may  do  as  he  pleases. 
He  appoints  whom  the  people  reject;  and  rejects  or  re¬ 
moves  whom  the  people  honour  and  prefer.  Let  the 
democracy  speedily  amend  the  constitution  or  the  law  or 
both ;  or  there  will  not  be  found  a  shadow  of  real  democ¬ 
racy  in  the  land. 

Our  farmers  and  mechanics  would  do  well  to  scrutinize 
the  tendency  of  all  our  grand  political  movements,  as  well 
as  the  peculiar  features  and  portentous  aspect  which  the 
Federal  Government,  in  the  lapse  of  years  and  by  insen¬ 
sible  degrees,  has  been  made  to  assume.  It  is  already 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


329 


more  monarchical  than  that  of  England — after  which  we 
copied.  With  us,  the  people  elect  but  a  single  branch 
of  the  national  legislature;  and  that  has  ceased  to  repre¬ 
sent  the  people’s  wishes;  is  controlled  by  the  executive; 
and,  at  best,  possesses  comparatively  small  powers.  While 
in  England,  the  House  of  Commons,  the  people’s  repre¬ 
sentative  in  fact  as  well  as  in  name,  is  omnipotent.  Its 
strong  arm  may  be  felt  by  the  throne,  the  church  and 
the  aristocracy.  Kings  and  lords  and  prelates  bow  to 
its  supremacy.  It  holds  fast  the  purse  of  the  empire. 
Koyalty  cannot  extract  from  it  a  shilling  without  its 
formal  sanction.  The  young  queen  could  not  command 
a  “ corporal’s  guard”  about  her  palace  or  a  sloop-of-war 
upon  the  ocean,  were  the  Commons  to  withhold  the  cus¬ 
tomary  supplies,  or  fail  to  enact  the  annual  money  bills. 
This  complete,  unrestricted,  absolute,  unquestioned  con¬ 
trol  of  the  national  purse  or  treasury  by  the  Commons, 
is  a  far  more  effective  and  perfect  guarantee  of  English 
liberty,  than  is  furnished  by  all  our  constitutions,  State 
and  national,  in  behalf  of  American  liberty. 

That  I  may  be  neither  misunderstood  nor  misrepre¬ 
sented,  I  here  take  occasion  to  declare  :  that  I  would 
prefer  such  a  constitutional  government  as  our  fathers 
honestly  designed  to  institute,  above  every  other  and  all 
others  in  the  world.  Were  it  now,  what  they  intended 
to  make  it,  I  would  say,  esto  perpetual  May  it  continue 
forever,  unchanged  and  unchangeable! 

But  since,  under  the  deceptive  banner  of  a  spurious 
democracy,  which  is  ever  promising  but  never  perform¬ 
ing,  the  most  alarming  innovations  upon  the  original 


330  MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 

frame-work  of  the  government  are  in  progress,  I  warn 
the  people  to  he  on  their  guard.  And  if  they  will  insist 
on  what  they  deem  a  wider,  larger,  more  equable  democ¬ 
racy;  let  them  be  just  to  themselves,  to  their  cause,  to 
their  avowed  principles.  Let  them  take  the  power  into 
their  own  hands,  and  exercise  it  for  their  own  benefit; 
instead  of  surrendering  more  and  more  of  it  to  the  fac¬ 
tious  demagogue,  who  is  eternally  prating  about  democ¬ 
racy,  about  the  miseries  of  the  poor,  about  the  oppression 
of  the  working-classes,  about  hard  times;  and  about  the 
urgent  need  of  reform,  which  can  be  effected  only  through 
his  own  or  his  master’s  democratic  agragrian  policy,  to 
be  tried  when  he  or  they  shall  be  duly  installed  into 
office.  While,  with  all  this  fair  speech  and  large  pre¬ 
tension,  he  is  covertly  aiming  to  usurp  or  to  help  another 
to  usurp,  or  to  seize  upon,  the  whole  State — the  entire 
sovereignty — the  executive  supremacy  over  the  legisla¬ 
ture,  the  judiciary,  the  military,  the  sword,  the  purse, 
war  and  peace,  upon  the  land  and  upon  the  ocean! 

These  two  instances  of  early  departure  from  the  spirit, 
if  not  from  the  letter,  of  the  constitution,  and  sustained 
by  law  and  usage — namely,  1.  Preference  of  the  United 
States  over  all  other  creditors,  and  2.  Right  of  the  Presi¬ 
dent  to  remove  from  office  —  must  suffice  as  examples 
and  illustrations  under  this  particular  head. 

Strict  and  liberal  interpreters  of  the  constitution. 

On  the  general  subject  of  reading  or  construing  the 
constitution,  it  is  known  that,  from  the  beginning,  there 
have  existed  among  us  two  schools  or  sects.  1.  Strict  or 
literal  interpreters — who  affect  to  go  by  the  record;  and 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


331 


who  deny  to  Congress  all  powers  not  expressly  granted. 
2.  Liberal  or  comprehensive  or  practical  interpreters — 
who  profess  to  be  fair  and  candid,  honest  and  judicious, 
in  seeking  to  promote  the  national  welfare ;  and  who 
maintain  that  Congress  may  exercise  a  discretionary 
legislation  for  the  public  good  in  matters  not  positively 
forbidden.  The  first  have  the  air  and  aspect  of  ortho¬ 
doxy.  They  appear  before  the  people  as  erect,  “perpen¬ 
dicular,”  unyielding,  indomitable  constitutionalists — as  a 
self-sacrificing,  saintly,  consecrated  band  of  zealous  devo¬ 
tees,  perhaps  of  martyrs  even,  to  the  holy  cause  of  liberty 
and  the  rights  of  man.  The  second  look  less  sternly  con¬ 
scientious;  are  thought  to  be  somewhat  latitudinarian, 
too  free  and  easy,  rather  lax,  licentious  or  heretical  in 
their  constitutional  views;  and,  of  course,  like  other 
heretics,  they  may  be  rendered  exceedingly  obnoxious 
to  public  censure  and  hatred:  and  the  hue  and  cry  may 
be  raised  against  them,  with  or  without  reason.* 

Here  again,  I  have  observed  that  the  most  rigid  of 
“the  straitest  sect,”  whenever  they  get  into  high  places, 
seem  to  acquire  a  sudden  enlargement  of  their  political 
vision  and  constitutional  prowess:  are  ready  to  leap  over 
all  wordy  barriers,  and  to  construe  the  text  with  a  free¬ 
dom  quite  edifying  to  the  timid  liberalists ,  who  would 
never  have  adventured  half  so  far  under  any  circum- 


*  The  liberal  school  is  at  present  reproachfully  styled  the  federal 
party — or  federalists.  The  strict ,  for  a  time,  gloried  in  the  name 
republican.  They  now  choose  to  be  called  democrats.  By  their 
opponents,  they  are  dubbed  loco-focos.  The  whigs  claim  to  be  honest, 
patriotic,  constitutional  Americans. 


332 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


stances.  Thus,  Mr.  Jefferson  advanced  per  saltum  a 
thousand  leagues  beyond  either  of  his  reputed  liberal 
or  federal  predecessors.  He,  too,  the  very  father,  prince, 
apostle  and  high-priest  of  modern  democracy!  He  was 
the  opposer  of  the  constitution  at  the  outset,  because  it 
was  not  sufficiently  democratic.  The  champion  of  State 
rights.  The  advocate  of  the  narrowest  possible  construc¬ 
tion  of  the  constitution,  and  of  the  most  limited  action 
of  the  general  government.  He  was  also  an  eloquent 
preacher  of  economy,  retrenchment,  moderate  salaries, 
light  taxes,  toleration  of  all  sorts  of  opinion,  freedom  of 
speech  and  of  the  press,  one-term  presidency,  independ¬ 
ence  of  office-holders,  and  other  such  like  goodly  doc¬ 
trines — which  are  always  acceptable  to  the  people.  But 
no  sooner  upon  the  throne — than  his  eyes  were  opened! 
He  then  clearly  perceived  that  the  constitution  meant 
whatever  he  should  understand  it  to  mean ;  that  is, 
whatever  he  desired,  or  might  happen  to  desire  in 
future.  He  created  a  new  cabinet  of  course.  He  re¬ 
moved  also,  from  subordinate  offices,  sundry  able  and 
upright  men  in  various  sections  of  the  country.  In  the 
affair  of  removals,  however,  it  must  be  acknowledged 
that  he  acted  with  great  forbearance  compared  with 
the  correspondent  course  of  some  of  his  successors.  His 
profession  of  a  purer  democmtic  creed  than  the  federal¬ 
ists,  flattered  the  people :  and  they  were  delighted  with 
every  demonstration  of  executive  boldness ;  because  they 
regarded  it  as  the  infliction  of  just  punishment  or  ven¬ 
geance  upon  their  own  worst  enemies  and  oppressors. 

He  contrived  to  get  rid  of  some  two  dozen  [twenty- 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  333 

six]  circuit  judges,*  by  procuring  a  repeal  of  the  law  by 
which  they  had  been  recently  appointed.  He  stayed 
process  against  persons  arraigned  under  the  sedition  law; 
and  he  pardoned  all  persons  convicted  under  that  and 
the  alien  law;  because  he  believed  both  laws  to  be  un¬ 
constitutional.  Salaries  were  raised  twenty  per  cent. — 
except  those  of  the  judges,  who  were  always  in  bad  odour 
with  him,  because  they  could  not  be  broken  or  trained 
so  as  to  work  kindly  in  his  big  democratic  team.  Hence 
he  earnestly  sought  to  render  them  as  dependent  on  the 
executive  nod  as  were  all  other  public  servants.  But  in 
this  pretty  little  democratic  ruse  or  project  for  the  espe¬ 
cial  benefit  and  divertisement  of  the  dear  people,  he  most 
unaccountably  failed — whether  through  lack  of  courage, 
or  perseverance,  or  tact,  or  “  conscience,”  history  has  not 
explained.  His  purchase  of  Louisiana — -the  best  act  or 
most  fortunate  accident  of  his  administration — was,  ac¬ 
cording  to  his  own  statement,  extra  constitutional :  as 
would  have  been  that  of  Florida,  which  he  attempted. 
His  naval  and  commercial  policy;  embargoes,  non-impor¬ 
tation  and  non-intercourse  acts;  gun-boats;  and  such  like 
schemes  and  doings,  exhibited  a  series  which  might  well 
be  characterized  as  extra  or  ultra  or  an^'-constitutional — 
agreeably  to  his  own  standard  of  strict  construction. 

He  was,  however,  on  the  whole  perhaps  a  rather  safe, 
reliable,  conservative  sort  of  a  politician:  and  we  are 
thankful  that  he  did  so  little  damage,  when  he  might 
have  done  so  much.  He  was  not  a  revolutionist.  He 
was  not  a  rash,  reckless,  furious  innovator  or  reformer. 


*  See  Memoirs  of  Aaron  Burr,  vol.  ii.  p.  HI. 


334 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


He  did  not  attempt  even  a  modification  of  tlie  financial 
policy,  which  was  coeval  wdtli  the  new  government,  of 
which  Hamilton  was  the  author  and  he  the  antagonist, 
when  both  wrere  members  of  the  first  presidential  cabinet. 
And  this  is  glory  enough,  even  for  a  Jefferson.  Let  us 
honour  his  memory.  He  followed  exactly  in  the  foot¬ 
steps  of  his  illustrious  predecessors,  in  this  one  grand 
essential.  He  adhered  to  the  true  faith  in  regard  to 
finance:  and  therefore  could  not  contrive  to  steer  the 
gallant  ship  of  State  very  far  out  of  the  right  course.  It 
is  impossible  to  ruin  a  country,  or  greatly  to  embarrass 
and  distress  it,  when  its  finances  are  wisely  managed. 
On  the  other  hand,  administer  these  badly,  and  all  is 
confusion,  darkness,  rascality  and  desperation.  Our 
country  has  not  enjoyed  a  day  of  peaceful  repose  or 
brilliant  prosperity,  except  when  and  while  the  finan¬ 
cial  system  wrhich  our  Washington  approved,  has  pre¬ 
vailed  ! 

True,  Mr.  Jefferson’s  petty,  “  terrapin,”  defensive,  do- 
nothing  experiments  in  the  gun-boat  and  anti-commercial 
line,  were  rather  onerous  and  expensive.  They  were 
designed  to  prevent  war;  but  in  fact  cost  more  than  the 
war  itself,  which  they  did  not  prevent;  and  which  they 
probably  provoked  and  accelerated. 

At  a  later  period,  Mr.  Jefferson  seems,  according  to 
his  biographer,  Professor  Tucker,  to  have  very  frankly 
acknowledged  that :  the  constitution  may  admit  of  a 
liberal  or  of  a  strict  construction,  just  as  the  welfare  of 
the  country  demands.  This  is,  undoubtedly,  the  only 
wise,  fair,  equitable,  legitimate  principle  of  interpreta- 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


335 


tion.  When  the  letter  of  the  text  fails  as  a  guide,  we 
must  go  by  the  spirit  of  the  context — with  a  single  eye 
to  the  public  good.  Because  it  may  be  safely  assumed 
that  the  sensible  architects  of  the  constitution  did  not 
intend  to  prevent  the  future  adoption  of  any  measure 
evidently  required  by  the  general  welfare;  except  when 
exjdicitly  ordained  otherwise  or  to  the  contrary. 

Any  measure,  therefore,  which  can  be  shown  to  be 
beneficial  to  the  whole  people  and  detrimental  to  none, 
and  which  is  not  in  terms  prohibited  in  the  constitution, 
may  and  ought  to  be  sustained  as  constitutional. 

Let  us  try  the  principle  in  practice.  The  United 
States  Bank  and  internal  improvements  may  serve  as 
examples  for  the  purpose. 

1.  United  States  Bank.  With  the  first  President,  Cabi¬ 
net  and  Congress,  the  main  inquiry  would  be,  whether, 
on  the  whole,  the  incorporation  of  a  United  States  Bank 
wTould  prove  the  wisest,  safest,  best  financial  scheme  that 
could  be  devised,  in  the  actual  circumstances  of  the  coun¬ 
try.  Not  merely  wrhether,  according  to  a  strictly  literal 
and  technical  construction  of  the  constitution,  they  pos¬ 
sessed  the  power  to  charter  a  bank.  They  had  been 
[some  twenty  of  them]  members  of  the  convention  which 
formed  the  constitution,  and  had  participated  largely  in 
the  discussion  of  this  very  subject.  They  knew  the  pre¬ 
cise  reasons  which  induced  them  to  pass  it  altogether  sub 
silentio ,  or  without  positive  provision  for  the  emergency. 
They  understood  the  matter  very  well.  They  realized 
the  difficulties  and  delicacy  of  their  novel  position.  They 
felt  that  the  experimentum  crucis  was  to  be  made.  That 


336 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


they  had  a  critical  and  responsible  duty  to  perforin.  Nor 
did  they  shrink  from  the  task.  The  credit  of  the  young 
republic  wajs  at  stake — was  in  fact  to  be  created  out  of 
absolute  chaos.  They  were,  by  their  first  acts,  to  estab¬ 
lish  the  meaning,  the  true  reading,  the  correct  interpre¬ 
tation,  the  practical  application  of  the  written  constitu¬ 
tion.  Whatever  course  they  pursued  in  regard  to  a  bank, 
they  took  for  granted  would  ever  after  be  deemed  constitu¬ 
tional;  unless  judicially  condemned  by  the  highest  consti¬ 
tutional  authority.  Hence  their  extreme  caution,  prud¬ 
ence,  sagacity  and  judgment,  in  examining  and  weighing 
reasons  on  either  side,  in  all  their  bearings  and  results; 
in  order  to  ascertain  the  system  or  policy  which  would 
be  likely  to  work  well;  which  would  be  expedient  and 
beneficial  for  the  nation  then,  and  probably  in  all  future 
time.  Having  deliberately  made  up  their  mind,  as  to 
the  expediency,  usefulness  and  necessity  of  such  a  fiscal 
agent,  they  declared  it  constitutional,  by  giving  it  exist¬ 
ence.  And  the  courts  have  confirmed  their  act. 

That  the  government  has  the  right — the  abstract  right 
— to  create  a  corporation,  cannot  be  doubted.  It  is  an 
inherent,  essential,  inalienable,  indefeasible  attribute  of 
sovereignty.  It  was  no  more  necessary  to  insert  it  in 
the  constitution,  than  it  was  to  specify  the  power  to 
acquire  additional  territory,  either  by  conquest  or  pur¬ 
chase.  Every  nation  has  the  right.  No  nation  could 
be  sovereign  and  independent  without  it.  Mr.  Jefferson 
need  never  have  hesitated,  on  this  ground,  about  the 

4 

purchase  of  Louisiana.  If  it  might  have  been  acquired 
by  arms — at  any  cost  of  gold  and  blood — a  fortiori  might 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


it  be  obtained  peaceably,  cheaply  and  without  the  sacri¬ 
fice  or  hazard  of  a  single  life.  So  if,  in  levying  taxes, 
duties,  imposts,  equally  over  the  whole  Union,  and  in 
order  to  establish  a  uniform  currency  throughout  the 
land,  a  bank  should  be  found  the  cheapest  and  best 
agency,  or  the  only  agency,  then  it  follows  that  a  bank 
ought  to  be  established.* 

It  has,  moreover,  been  decided  to  be  constitutional  by 
the  Supreme  Court — by  all  the  Presidents — by  every 
Congress — by  all  the  States — and  by  the  whole  people — 
for  the  space  of  some  forty  years  at  least.  No  bill  to 
establish  a  bank  was  ever  rejected  by  Congress,  simply 
because  it  was  believed  to  be  unconstitutional.  Nor  has 
such  a  bill  been  vetoed  by  any  President  exclusively  on 
that  ground — unless  we  regard  the  present  executive  as 
the  sole  exception.  He  has  set  up  a  new  rule,  which,  if 
generally  adopted,  will  supersede  all  written  codes  and 
all  judicial  decisions:  namely,  The  Presidential  Conscience , 
for  the  time  being! 

Whether,  therefore,  a  national  bank  be  constitutional, 
is  no  longer  an  open  or  debatable  question.  And  I  have 
adverted  to  the  case,  to  show  how  such  questions  are  to 
be  determined,  settled  and  put  at  rest  forever. 

But  in  reference  to  a  United  States  Bank,  whatever 
may  have  been  urged  in  favour  of  the  first  and  second 

* . “but  all  duties,  imposts  and  excises  shall  be  uniform  through¬ 

out  the  United  States.”  {Const.,  Art.  I.,  Sec.  8,  1.) 

5.  “To  coin  money,  regulate  the  value  thereof,  and  of  foreigu 
coin,”  *  *  * 

No  State  shall  “emit  bills  of  credit.”  (Art.  I.,  Sec.  10,  1.) 

VOL.  hi. — 22 


338  MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 

institutions,  it  is  now  and  may  be  hereafter,  a  fair,  open, 
debatable  question  :  whether  such  a  bank,  or  whether 
any  bank,  be  necessary,  useful  or  expedient?  The  condi¬ 
tion  of  the  country  may  differ  widely  at  different  periods. 
Experience  may  have  taught  or  may  yet  teach  us  new 
lessons.  Possibly  we  can  do  better.  Very  well. — Here 
is  legitimate  scope  for  reasoning  and  for  diversity  of 
opinions.  The  constitutional  controversy  ought  to  be 
dismissed  by  both  whigs  and  democrats  as  obsolete  and 
irrelevant.  They  might  as  well  discuss  and  quarrel 
about  the  constitutional  right  of  erecting  forts  or  build¬ 
ing  steam  frigates. 

In  this  connexion,  I  have  not  intended  to  say  a  word 
for  or  against  a  new  United  States  Bank  of  any  descrip¬ 
tion  whatever.  I  am  no  advocate  of  either  State  or  Stock 
Banks — as  they  have  hitherto  been  constructed  and 
managed  all  over  the  land.  That  a  paper  currency , 
nevertheless,  of  some  kind,  is  indispensable,  both  to  the 
government  and  to  the  people,  I  entertain  the  deepest 
conviction.  My  reasons  will  be  assigned  in  another 
place. 

2.  Internal  Improvements.  We  have  seen  how  the  con¬ 
stitution  was  construed  in  the  case  of  a  bank  corporation. 
The  same  or  a  similar  process  was  pursued  in  relation  to 
u internal  improvements”  by  the  general  government;  as 
also  in  regard  to  the  policy  of  protecting  our  home  or 
domestic  industry.  In  these  and  other  analogous  cases, 
Congress  interpreted  the  constitution  liberally,  and  in 
accordance  with  their  views  of  the  substantial  and  para¬ 
mount  welfare  of  the  people.  Whether  wise  or  unwise, 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


339 


right  or  wrong,  in  their  plans  and  enactments — is  not 
now  the  question.  Did  they  violate  the  constitution? 
I  think  not.  A  good  road,  for  instance,  is  always  a  good 
thing — wherever  needed  or  by  whomsoever  made.  Gun¬ 
boats  were  useless,  and  have  perished. — The  road  endures, 
and  is  available.  Congress  annually  waste  hundreds  of 
thousands  in  idle  disputes  about  “ heads  and  tails:”  the 
road  remains  for  them  and  their  betters  to  travel  home 
upon  and  back  again  at  pleasure.  Millions  are  expended 
on  visionary  experiments  and  projects,  on  showy  edifices, 
forts,  castles,  branch-mints,  Indian  wars,  political  favour¬ 
ites,  sinecure  offices,  and  all  sorts  of  knaves,  fools  and 
fooleries:  while  the  good  old  road,  if  kept  in  repair,  re¬ 
minds  us  of  our  66  penny  worth”  amid  the  general  wreck 
and  ruin;  and  is,  at  present,  about  all  that  we  have  to 
show  for  some  two  hundred  millions  which  have  disap¬ 
peared,  as  if  by  the  touch  of  a  66 magician’s  wand!”* 
Could  our  gold-worshippers  at  Washington  but  discover 
flie  philosopher’s  stone,  or  get  possession  of  Aladdin’s 
lamp;  we,  the  “workies,”  might  take  a  long  quiet  nap, 
without  dread  of  sheriff  or  bumbailiff;  and  without  being 
haunted  by  the  ghostly  agents  and  officious  factotums 
of  a  regular,  constitutional,  debt-repudiating,  bankruptcy 
deliverance. 

By-the-way,  if  the  government  be  an  “  abstraction,” 
would  it  not  be  well  to  let  it  live  upon  abstractions? 

*  The  act  for  the  construction  of  a  national  road  from  Cumberland 
in  Maryland,  to  the  State  of  Ohio,  was  passed  March  24,  1806,  in 
Congress,  by  a  vote  of  66  to  50 :  under  the  “Simon  pure”  democratic 
reign  of  the  “great”  and  infallible  Jefferson!  (See  Tucker,  vol.  ii. 
p.  199.) 


310  MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 

If  “the  government  lias  enough  to  do  to  take  care  of 
itself1’ — why,  then,  to  be  sure,  let  it  work  per  se;  without 
plaguing  the  people  or  demanding  their  support. 

To  explain  the  difference  between  a  fair  construc¬ 
tion  of  the  constitution,  and  a  direct  palpable  viola¬ 
tion  of  its  letter,  I  select  a  specimen  or  two,  as 
illustrations. 

1.  “No  title  of  nobility  shall  be  granted  by  the  United 
States.”  (Art.  I.,  Sec.  9,  7.)  Now  were  a  law  to  be  duly 
passed,  creating  the  noble  orders  which  obtain  in  Eng¬ 
land,  and  authorizing  the  President  to  confer  rank  and 
titles  at  his  pleasure;  and  were  the  courts  to  pronounce 
the  law  valid  and  constitutional:  everybody,  capable  of 
reading,  would  instantly  perceive  the  glaring  imposition, 
and  be  ready  to  exclaim  that  the  constitution  had  been 
virtually  annulled.  Still,  if  the  whole  people  chose  to 
abide  the  consequences,  we  might  soon  behold  our 
staunch  democratic  and  whig  popular  brawlers,  con¬ 
verted  into  respectable  courtly  Lords  and  Dukes;  and 
sporting  stars,  garters,  coronets,  and  all  other  fantastic 
and  heraldic  emblazonry — after  the  most  approved 
legitimate  transatlantic  models. 

2.  Again,  says  Article  I.,  Section  1,  of  the  constitu¬ 
tion  :  “All  legislative  powers  herein  granted,  shall  be 
vested  in  a  Congress  of  the  United  States,  which  shall 
consist  of  a  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives.” — 
Human  language  could  not  be  plainer,  more  precise, 
more  explicit,  more  intelligible,  or  more  definite.  Yet 
we  have  lived  to  see  the  day,  when  some  of  the  most 
tenacious  professors  of  the  severest  literal  sect  boldly 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


341 


proclaim  that  the  Executive  is  a  co-ordinate* *  branch — 
an  integral  efficient  part — of  the  national  legislature. 
Merely  because  he  can,  in  a  certain  way,  arrest  its 
action  and  prevent  the  passage  of  a  law.  Will  this 
audacious  usurpation  be  sustained,  or  tamely  submitted 
to,  by  our  honest  democracy,  in  the  very  teeth  of  the 
letter  and  manifest  intendment  of  the  entire  constitution? 

Might  not  the  Judiciary  set  up  a  still  more  specious 
claim,  to  be  considered  as  part  and  parcel  of  the  legis¬ 
lature  also?  Because  the  Supreme  Court  possesses  the 
power  to  pronounce  finally  and  decisively  upon  the  con¬ 
stitutionality  of  all  its  acts?  The  Judges,  I  think,  would 
beat  the  President  in  logic,  at  least,  upon  this  argument. 
Between  them,  i.e.  the  Executive  and  the  Judiciary,  Con¬ 
gress  wrould  soon  have  little  to  do,  except  to  obey  orders, 
and  receive  their  per  diem. 

In  the  case  of  removals  from  office  by  the  President, 
we  have  seen  how  the  practice  crept  in,  against  the  mani¬ 
fest  import  of  the  constitution  and  almost  without  law : 
and  we  have  seen,  or  may  see,  from  a  paper  in  the  “  Fed¬ 
eralist,”  written  by  Mr.  Hamilton,  how  that  ultra  cham¬ 
pion  of  monarchy,  as  his  revilers  style  him,  expounded 
the  constitution,  to  mean  that  the  President  had  no  such 
power,  and  that  removals  could  be  effected  only  by  con¬ 
sent  or  vote  of  the  Senate.f  Still,  not  one  of  our  strait- 

*  Mr.  Jefferson  speaks  of  the  executive  as  a  co-ordinate  branch. 
(  Tucker ,  vol.  ii.  p.  167.)  Again  :  .  .  “And  because  he  himself,  being 
a  part  of  the  legislature,  shares  in  the  responsibility  of  all  their  acts.” 
(  Tucker ,  vol.  ii.  pp.  195-96.) 

*t  “The  consent  of  the  Senate  (says  Hamilton  in  No.  77  of  the  Fed¬ 
eralist)  would  be  necessary  to  displace  as  well  as  to  appoint;”  and  he 


342 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


laced  democratic  Presidents  has  ever  attempted  to  break 
the  custom,  and  get  back  to  the  constitution.  They 
have  found  it  extremely  convenient  to  continue  a  prac¬ 
tice,  which  Hamilton  condemned ;  and  which  they,  in 
fact,  were  the  first  to  turn  to  much  account.  No  fed¬ 
eralist  ever  dreamt  of  being  a  third,  or  a  half,  or  the 
totality  of  the  law-making  power  of  the  Union. 

Will  the  people  be  forever  humbugged  by  names? 
Will  they  tolerate  the  most  barefaced  contradictions  and 
inconsistencies,  and  permit  violence  to  be  offered  to  the 
sacred  charter  of  their  liberties,  by  any  Gcesar  or  Glodius , 
Burr  or  Dorr ,  who  may  condescend  to  wear  the  garb  and 
utter  the  speech  of  democracy? 

These  are  the  men  wTho  strain  at  gnats,  and  swallow 
camels.*  They  denounced  the  elder  Adams  as  a  fed- 


goes  on  to  observe,  that  “those  who  can  best  estimate  the  value  of  a 
steady  administration,  will  be  most  disposed  to  prize  a  provision  which 
connects  the  official  existence  of  public  men  with  the  approbation  or 
disapprobation  of  that  body,  which,  from  the  great  permanency  of  its 
own  composition,  will  in  all  probability  be  less  subject  to  inconstancy 
than  any  other  member  of  the  government.”  But  the  construction 
(says  Kent)  which  was  given  to  the  constitution  by  Congress,  after 
great  consideration  and  discussion,  was  different.  In  the  act  for 
establishing  the  treasury  department,  [September  2,  1189,]  the  Sec¬ 
retary  was  contemplated  as  being  removable  from  office  by  the  Presi¬ 
dent.  The  words  of  the  act  are,  “That  whenever  the  Secretary  shall 
be  removed  from  office  by  the  President  of  the  United  States,”  etc. 
This  amounted  to  a  legislative  construction,  of  the  constitution,  and 
it  has  ever  since  been  acquiesced  in  and  acted  upon,  as  of  decisive 
authority  in  the  case.  {Kent,  vol.  i.  pp.  309-10.) 

*  They  compel  the  people  to  swallow  the  camels.  They  get  up  a 
tremendous  uproar  about  a  feather ,  it  may  be. — “a  billiard  table,” 
“a  light-house  in  the  skies,”  “an  ebony  and  topaz  toast,”  “a  Panama 
mission,”  the  expense  of  an  unfurnished  “East  room,”  “a  national 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


343 


eralist  and  British  tory,  on  account  of  the  stamp  act, 
“gag  law,”  and  a  few  other  trifles,  which  were  made  to 
assume  a  “raw  head  and  bloody  bones”  aspect  before  the 
people.  Of  these  measures,  by-the-way,  however  odious 
they  rendered  him  and  his  administration,  he  was  neither 
the  author  nor  the  adviser.  His  whole  sin  consisted  in 
not  interfering:  in  suffering  a  majority  to  decide.  lie 
was  too  honest  a  democrat  to  veto  the  sedition  and  alien 
laws,  or  any  laws  enacted  by  Congress,  simply  because 
he  had  not  suggested  them  or  did  not  like  them.  He 
did  not  feel  big  enough,  or  “conscientious”  enough,  to 
declare  that  the  people’s  representatives  were  asses  and 
noodles;  and  therefore  deserved  a  cool  reprimand  in  the 
shape  of  an  “I  forbid:”  so  get  about  your  business,  and 
tell  the  silly  multitude  who  sent  you  here,  that,  “  I  know 
better.” 

university”  in  posse,  etc.  And  when  the  people  are  sufficiently  exas¬ 
perated  to  do  battle  against  the  gnats,  then  begins  the  work  of  camel- 
eating  in  good  earnest.  A  government  of  twelve  millions  a  year,  was 
unbearable :  another,  of  thirty  millions,  was  capital !  The  sedition  law 
was  a  terrible  affair:  while  “the  banishment  to  Siberia”  in  mid- winter 
of  twenty  thousand  public  servants  without  even  the  shadow  of  a  trial, 
was  but  a  camel;  and  the  people  could  easily  swallow  it:  and  they 
did  swallow  it.  Thus  it  has  always  been.  Abimelech  borrowed  a 
little  money  from  the  sacred  treasury,  “wherewith  he  hired  vain  and 
light  persons,  who  followed  him,”  and  soon  helped  him  to  borrow  the 
rest.  (Judges,  ix.  4.)  “So  Absalom  stole  the  hearts  of  the  men  of 
Israel,”  by  all  sorts  of  democratic  blandishments :  and  they  paid  dearly, 
as  usual,  for  their  credulity.  (2  Sam.  xv.  6.)  11  Jeroboam  the  son  of 

Nebat,  who  made  Israel  to  sin,”  (1  Kings,  xvi.  26,)  set  an  example 
of  acting  agreeably  “to  his  own  understanding  of  the  constitution;” 
which  was  so  well  imitated  by  his  successors,  that  the  Ten  Tribes 
began  presently  to  doubt  whether  they  had  any  constitution,  beside 
the  royal  pleasure  :  and  they  had  none  ! 


344 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


Now,  if  Mr.  Adams  had,  by  royal  edict  or  imperial 
ukase ,  promulgated  the  stamp,  sedition  and  alien  laws, 
without  even  the  knowledge  of  Congress,  he  would  not 
have  perpetrated  a  more  high-handed  contempt  of  con¬ 
stitutional  authority,  or  of  the  people’s  representatives, 
than  has  since  been  witnessed  under  other  forms  and 
names  democratic.  A  President  may  as  well  make  the 
law  at  once;  as  to  be  allowed  to  prevent  the  passage  of 
any  law  which  he  dislikes.  The  first  would  be  much 
the  cheaper  and  more  eligible  plan.  I  vote  for  it,  as  the 
preferable  alternative. 

But  as  we  do  not  yet  despair  of  the  Republic:  and  as 
I  before  intimated  that  some  amendments  to  the  consti¬ 
tution  were  desirable,  or  rather  had  become  indispensa¬ 
ble,  in  order  to  maintain  among  us  a  pure  democracy  in 
future — I  proceed  to  specify  two  or  three. 

1.  The  President  to  be  elected  for  one  term  only:  and 
the  shorter  the  better.  2.  The  executive  veto  to  be  abol¬ 
ished  altogether.  3.  Majorities  in  either  House  of  Con¬ 
gress,  and  everywhere,  to  decide  all  questions.  Two-thirds 
never.  [Except,  possibly,  in  cases  of  impeachment  of 
high  officers,  and  the  expulsion  of  members.]  4.  The 
President  to  have  no  power  to  remove  from  office:  [he 
may  suspend  for  a  time:]  and  very  little  or  none  in  the 
appointment  of  officers.  5.  In  case  of  the  President’s 
death  within  a  year,  let  the  same  electoral  colleges 
choose  his  successor,  in  such  manner  as  shall  be  pre¬ 
scribed.  Indeed,  I  see  no  good  reason  why  they  should 
not  be  authorized  to  fill  any  vacancy  which  might  occur 
during  the  presidential  term.  Why  not?  They  were 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


345 


chosen  by  the  people  to  express  their  will  for  the  next 
ensuing  four  years.  I  suggest  this,  upon  the  supposition 
that  the  present  mode  is  to  be  continued.  It  would  be 
more  democratic  to  dispense  with  electors  altogether,  and 
allow  the  people  to  vote  directly  for  the  President  and 
Vice-President. 

1.  The  President  ought  to  be  elected  for  a  single  term 
or  period.  One  only — fixed  and  definite.  Let  it  be  four 
years,  if  you  please:  though  three  or  two  would  be  better. 
But  let  no  man  ever  be  eligible  for  more  than  one  term. 
Thus  taught  Mr.  Jefferson;  and  amen  has  been  responded 
by  every  democrat,  until  recently;  though  not  one  has 
ever  practised  accordingly.  In  Texas ,  one  term  of  three 
years  is  established  by  the  constitution.  The  party 
elected  being  ineligible  until  after  an  interval  of  three 
years.  He  should  have  been  declared  ineligible  forever. 

Roman  consuls  held  office  one  year.  They  were  not 
re-eligible  until  after  the  expiration  of  ten  years.  “It 
was  required  that  every  candidate  for  the  consulship 
should  be  forty-three  years  of  age,  called  legitimum  tern - 
pus.”  He  would,  of  course,  be  fifty-four  when  a  candi¬ 
date  for  a  second  time:  sixty -five  for  a  third:  and 
seventy-six  or  seventy-seven  before  he  could  complete 
a  four  years’  reign.  So  long  as  these  two  rules  were 
rigidly  observed,  the  Roman  constitution  was  safe.  A 
Roman  policy  was  steadily  pursued  by  them  all.  There 
was  no  individual  consular  experimental  policy.  Hence 
the  vigorous  growth  and  prosperity  of  the  republic.  No 
Roman  consul  had  any  favourite  personal  scheme  of  am¬ 
bition  or  vanity  to  execute  or  attempt.  Or  if  he  had,  no 


346 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


time  was  allowed  him  to  mature  it.  He  could  do  no 
more  than  go  forward  in  the  prescribed  national  course, 
and  earn  fame  and  reputation  by  achieving  the  utmost 
possible  for  the  public  weal  and  glory  during  his  brief 
official  year.  In  like  manner,  we  ought  to  have  an 
American  policy:  not  a  Presidential — a  Jeffersonian ,  a 
Van  Buren ,  a  Tyler ,  a  Calhoun ,  or  a  Clay  policy;  requir¬ 
ing  some  eight  or  a  dozen  years  to  carry  it  out.  That 
is,  to  ascertain  by  the  trial,  whether  it  will  answer,  or 
whether  it  is  practicable.  Thus  keeping  the  country  in 
perpetual  suspense  and  excitement.  Nothing  settled. 
Always  in  a  transition  state.  Ever  making  experi¬ 
ments.  Giving  to  the  constitution,  now  a  liberal ,  now 
a  strict ,  now  an  ultra  construction.  Until  it  comes  to 
mean  anything  or  nothing;  at  the  will  of  a  dictator. 
Let  the  farmers  and  mechanics  put  their  omnipotent 
veto  upon  such  follies  and  abuses.  Let  them  speak: 
and  their  servants  must  obey.  Washington’s  policy 
was  the  true  American  policy.  Let  us,  like  sensible 
well-whipped  children,  return  to  it,  and  adhere  to  it, 
for  the  next  thousand  generations. 

2.  Abrogate  the  veto  prerogative  altogether.  The 
Homan  tribunitial  veto  was  instituted  to  check  the 
arbitrary  encroachments  of  the  Patrician  order.  It 
never  answered  any  good  purpose.  It  eventually  be¬ 
came  a  principal  engine  in  the  hands  of  the  demagogue, 
and  hastened  the  consummation  of  the  military  despot¬ 
ism  of  the  Cmsars.  The  liberum  veto ,  exercised  severally 
by  the  Polish  grandees,  in  the  election  of  a  king,  proved 
the  immediate  cause  of  infinite  dissensions  and  tumults; 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


347 


and  ultimately  prostrated  tire  national  spirit  and  gov¬ 
ernment,  and  led  to  a  partition  of  the  kingdom  by  the 
neighbouring  powers.  We  have  borrowed  the  veto  from 
neither  of  these.  We  copied  again  from  England:  as 
she  had  done  from  the  feudal  sovereigns  of  the  middle 
ages.  Among  these  it  was  a  personal  right:  that  is,  it 
attached  to  the  person  of  the  liege — of  the  actual  em¬ 
peror,  king,  duke,  or  acknowledged  chieftain.  It  now 
appertains  to  the  crown.  It  is  a  royal  prerogative;  and, 
in  modern  Europe,  is  seldom  exerted:  in  England,  never! 
I  object  to  it,  because  it  is  anti- republican,  anti-demo¬ 
crat  ic,  unnecessary,  never  beneficial,  always  liable  to 
abuse;  and  may  be  so  exercised  as  to  render  nugatory 
the  entire  action  of  the  legislature. 

I  say  nothing  of  the  past.  How  much  good  the  veto 
may  have  hitherto  effected,  I  leave  others  to  calculate. 
Assuredly,  it  is  not  necessary  to  a  democracy.  We  have 
no  hereditary  or  privileged  nobility  or  patrician  aristoc¬ 
racy,  for  the  Plebs  to  struggle  against.  The  President 
is  the  very  man,  above  all  others,  the  most  to  be  feared. 
He  is  the  only  power  in  the  State  which  can  infringe 
upon  or  demolish  our  liberties.  If  we  cannot  trust  our 
three  hundred  chosen  representatives  to  make  laws  both 
for  him  and  us:  what  can  they  be  good  for?  Is  it  not 
enough  that  he  should  execute  the  laws,  without  any 
agency  in  their  enactment? 

Our  President  is  more  powerful  and  less  responsible 
than  any  European  constitutional  monarch  whatever. 
He  is  in  fact  an  absolute  monarch,  for  the  time  being. 
By  the  veto ,  he  can,  in  the  present  state  of  parties,  arrest 


348 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


all  legislation.  He  can  even  bring  to  terms  or  to  humili¬ 
ating  submission  to  bis  will,  a  Congress,  where  both  par¬ 
ties  are  hostile  to  him  and  to  his  measures.  He  can 
refuse  to  nominate  candidates  for  office.  Or  he  can 
appoint  those  whom  the  Senate  rejects — after  its  ad¬ 
journment.  At  best  or  worst,  no  man  can  get  an  office, 
except  through  his  special  favour.  Thus  by  patronage, 
by  command  of  the  army  and  navy,  by  possession  or 
control  of  the  treasury,  by  party  management,  and  by 
sundry  other  means  and  appliances,  he  is  above  the 
reach  of  the  people,  of  the  constitution  and  the  laws. 
He  is  not  dependent  even  for  his  salary.  A  vote  of 
supplies  by  the  Commons,  is  not  necessary  here ,  as  it  is 
in  England. 

A  man  may  become  President,  and  therefore  our  mas¬ 
ter ,  not  only  without  a  vote  of  the  people,  but  against 
their  wishes.  Thus  Burr  might  have  been  elected  by 
Congress  in  preference  to  Jefferson:  though  not  a  vote 
of  the  people  or  of  the  electors  had  been  given  with  such 
intent.  Again,  had  Jefferson  died  during  his  first  offi¬ 
cial  term,  Burr  would  have  been  President  of  course, 
though  then  actually  odious  to  all  parties.  Both  Presi¬ 
dent  and  Vice -President  may  die:  then  succeeds  the 
President  pro  tempore  of  the  Senate :  after  him,  the 
Speaker  of  the  lower  House;  either  of  whom  may  be 
wholly  unacceptable  to  the  people.  Shall  such  an  “acci- 
dency”  be  clothed  with  the  tremendous  veto? 

Ought  the  President  to  sign  a  bill  which  he  believes 
or  asserts  to  be  unconstitutional?  He  ought  not;  is  the 
general  reply.  If  this  be  sound  logic,  then  is  it  conclu- 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


349 


sive  against  allowing  him  any  discretion  in  the  matter. 
I  say  that  the  President’s  belief,  opinion,  judgment,  con¬ 
science,  have  nothing  to  do  with  any  principle,  rule, 
law,  or  system,  already  decided  and  established  by  the 
Supreme  Court  to  be  constitutional.  His  u conscience” 
is  not  the  test  or  criterion  for  a  great  nation  to  go  by. 
Deliver  him  speedily  from  the  temptation,  by  amending 
the  constitution,  and  shutting  him  out  of  the  legislative 
chambers  altogether. 

3.  Majorities  in  either  house  of  Congress  ought  to  de¬ 
cide  all  questions  which  come  before  them.  The  consti¬ 
tution  should  be  altered  in  those  cases  where  two-thirds 
are  required.  [Excepting,  perhaps,  cases  of  impeachment, 
and  expulsion  of  members.]  Much  evil  has  arisen  in 
our  legislative  bodies,  both  State  and  national,  where 
the  two-thirds  rule  obtains.  Thus,  two-thirds  of  the 
senators  must  concur  with  the  President  in  the  ratifi¬ 
cation  of  a  treaty.  So  that  the  ablest  achievement  of 
our  diplomacy  may  be  defeated  by  a  single  vote.  “  Jay’s 
treaty,”  one  of  the  most  judicious  ever  formed,  though 
egregiously  misrepresented  and  fiercely  denounced  at  the 
time,  was  ratified  at  last  by  a  majority  of  one.  Thus 
also,  two-thirds  in  each  house  are  necessary  to  pass  a 
law  vetoed  by  the  President.  I  shall  not  enlarge  upon 
this  item,  though  I  deem  it  highly  important.  To  require 
two-thirds  instead  of  a  numerical  majority,  is  anti-demo¬ 
cratic;  and  may  often  obstruct  the  known  will  and  best 
interests  of  the  people.  Let  the  majority  rule :  that  is, 
determine  who  shall  rule,  and  what  the  rule  shall  be. 


350 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


NOTES. 

Royal  interference  with  legislation.  In  1783,  during  the  pend¬ 
ency  of  Fox’s  famous  India  bill,  it  was  reported  and  believed,  that  the 
king,  in  a  private  audience,  had  given  Lord  Temple  a  note,  written  in 
his  own  hand,  stating,  “that  his  majesty  would  deem  those  who  voted 
for  the  bill  not  only  not  his  friends,  but  his  enemies:  and  that,  if  Lord 
Temple  could  put  this  in  still  stronger  words,  he  had  full  authority  to 
do  so.” 

“  On  the  very  same  evening  the  Commons,  on  the  motion  of  Mr. 
Baker,  took  into  consideration  the  rumour  about  Lord  Temple  and 
the  king’s  strong  note,  and  voted  the  two  following  resolutions : — 

1.  “That  it  is  now  necessary  to  declare  that,  to  report  any  opinion, 
or  pretended  opinion,  of  his  majesty,  upon  any  bill,  or  other  proceed¬ 
ing,  depending  in  either  House  of  Parliament,  with  a  view  to  influence 
the  votes  of  the  members,  is  a  high  crime  and  misdemeanor,  deroga¬ 
tory  to  the  honour  of  the  crown,  a  breach  of  the  fundamental  privi¬ 
leges  of  Parliament,  and  subversive  of  the  constitution  of  this  country. 

2.  “That  this  House  will,  on  Monday  next,  resolve  itself  into  a 
committee  of  the  whole  House,  to  consider  the  state  of  the  nation.” 
( Pictorial  England ,  No.  53,  p.  503.) 

Sedition  Law.  “He  [Mr.  Jefferson]  justified  himself  for  the  libera¬ 
tion  of  the  individual  alluded  to,  in  common  with  all  others  punished 
under  the  sedition  law,  because  he  considered  that  law  ‘a  nullity  as 
absolute  and  palpable,  as  if  Congress  had  ordered  us  to  fall  down  and 
worship  a  golden  image.’”  {TuckeCs  Life  of  Jefferson,  vol.  ii.  p.  166. 
Letter  to  Mrs.  Adams.) 

Repeal  of  the  law,  creating  twenty-four  new  courts.  {Ibid.,  vol.  ii. 
pp.  113,  114.) 

Strict  Construction.  “These  arguments  prevailed  with  the  repub¬ 
lican  party,  who  now  found  that  the  very  strict  construction  of  the 
constitution  for  which  they  had  contended  when  in  the  opposition, 
was  not  suited  to  them  when  in  the  exercise  of  power;  and  which,  if 
pushed  to  that  extreme  of  nicety  which  some  affected,  would  often 
defeat  the  main  purposes  for  which  the  constitution  was  established.” 
Thus  writes  Tucker ,  in  relating  the  arguments  pro  and  con  respecting 
the  Louisiana  treaty.  [Adopted  in  Senate  by  24  to  7.  In  lower  house 
by  90  to  25.]  {Tucker,  vol.  ii.  p.  155.) 

Louisiana.  In  reference  to  the  purchase  of  Louisiana,  Mr.  Jeffer¬ 
son  admitted  or  rather  declared  that  the  executive  “have  done  an  act 
beyond  the  constitution.”  {Tucker,  vol.  ii.  p.  147.) 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


351 


The  federalists  charged  Mr.  Jefferson  and  his  friends,  who  had  been 
advocates  for  a  strict  interpretation  of  the  constitution,  with  being 
“ultra  latitudinarian  in  construing  it  when  it  suited  their  purpose.”  .  . 
(  Tucker ,  vol.  ii.  p.  112.) 

Removal  of  Judges.  “A  proposition,  which  had  been  made  at  the 
preceding  session,  [1805,]  to  amend  the  constitution  so  that  any  judge 
of  a  federal  court  might  be  removed  by  the  President,  on  the  joint 
application  of  the  two  houses  of  Congress,  was  renewed  at  the  present 
session,  [1806,]  and  after  the  disagreement  to  the  proposition  in  com¬ 
mittee  of  the  whole,  the  motion  to  postpone  it  indefinitely  was  rejected 
by  a  large  majority.”  Nothing  more  was  attempted.  ( Tucker,  vol.  ii. 

p.  200.) 

Dependence  of  Judges.  (Ibicl.,  pp.  316,  311.) 

“He  denies  that  the  judges  have  any  right  to  decide  constitutional 
questions  for  the  Executive,  more  than  the  Executive  has  to  decide 
for  them.”  (Tucker,  voi.  ii.  p.  161.) 

Mr.  Jefferson’s  opinion  about  the  interference  of  the  officers  of  the 
federal  government  in  the  elections,  in  his  reply  to  a  letter  on  the  sub¬ 
ject  from  Governor  McKean  of  Pennsylvania,  dated  February  2,  1801, 
just  before  he  entered  upon  the  duties  of  President: — 

“Mr.  Jefferson  expresses  a  principle  which  he  afterwards  acted  on, 
that  ‘interferences  with  elections,  whether  of  the  State  or  General  Gov¬ 
ernment,  by  officers  of  the  latter,  should  be  deemed  causes  of  removal ; 
because  the  constitutional  remedy  by  the  elective  principle  becomes 
nothing,  if  it  may  be  smothered  by  the  enormous  patronage  of  the 
general  government.’” 

Again,  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  Gerry,  February,  1801,  he  says:  “The 
right  of  opinion  shall  suffer  no  invasion  from  me.  Those  who  have 
acted  well  have  nothing  to  fear,  however  they  may  have  differed  from 
me  in  opinion :  those  who  have  done  ill,  however,  have  nothing  to 
hope ;  nor  shall  I  fail  to  do  justice,  lest  it  should  be  ascribed  to  that 
difference  of  opinion.”  (Tucker's  Life  of  Jefferson,  vol.  ii.  pp.  98, 
1 6T.) 

“Both  of  our  political  parties,  at  least  the  honest  part  of  them, 
agree  conscientiously  in  the  same  object,  the  public  good;  but  they 
differ  essentially  in  what  they  deem  the  means  of  promoting  that 
good.”  (Letter  to  Mrs.  Adams.  Tucker,  vol.  ii.  p.  161.) 

See  Madison  Papers,  vol.  iii.  pp.  1516,  1511.  “Mr.  Madison  sug¬ 
gested  an  enlargement  of  the  motion,  [then  sub  judice,~\  into  a  power 
‘to  grant  charters  of  incorporation  where  the  interest  of  the  United 
States  might  require,  and  the  legislative  provisions  of  individual  States 


852 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


may  be  incompetent.’”  “Mr.  [Rufus]  King  thought  the  power  unne¬ 
cessary.”  “  Mr.  Wilson:  It  is  necessary  to  prevent  a  State  from  ob¬ 
structing  the  general  welfare.”  In  reply,  “Mr.  King:  The  States 
will  be  prejudiced  and  divided  into  parties  by  it.  In  Philadelphia  and 
New  York,  it  will  be  referred  to  the  establishment  of  a  bank,  which 
has  been  a  subject  of  contention  in  those  cities.  In  other  places  it 
will  be  referred  to  mercantile  monopolies.”  In  reply,  Mr.  Wilson 
again :  “As  to  banks,  he  did  not  think  with  Mr.  King,  that  the  power 
in  that  point  of  view  would  excite  the  prejudices  and  parties  appre¬ 
hended.  As  to  mercantile  monopolies,  they  are  already  included- in 
the  power  to  regulate  trade.” 

It  would  seem  that  Mr.  Madison’s  motion  failed,  from  a  conviction 
that  Congress  would  possess  the  power  without  any  explicit  grant — 
if  not  explicitly  denied. 

Mr.  King  probably  alluded  to  the  commercial  rivalry  existing  be¬ 
tween  Philadelphia  and  New  York:  and  to  the  apprehensions  of  the 
latter  lest  the  former  should  be  preferred  as  the  site  of  any  contem¬ 
plated  national  bank. 

Again:  “Mr.  Madison  and  Mr.  Pinckney  moved  to  insert,  in  the 
list  of  powders  vested  in  Congress,  a  power  ‘to  establish  an  Univer¬ 
sity,  in  which  no  preferences  or  distinctions  should  be  allowed  on 
account  of  religion.’”  “Mr.  Wilson  supported  the  motion.”  “Mr. 
Gouverneur  Morris :  It  is  not  necessary.  The  exclusive  powder  at  the 
seat  of  government  will  reach  the  object.”  This  case  is  introduced  to 
illustrate  the  mode  of  arguing  and  disposing  of  such  and  similar  ques¬ 
tions.  They  seem  to  have  assumed  that  the  power  would  vest  in  Con¬ 
gress,  when  not  withheld  or  refused.  See  also  Madison  Papers,  vol. 
iii.  pp.  1343-46,  for  debates  about  bills  of  credit.  “Mr.  G.  Morris 
moved  to  strike  out,  ‘and  emit  bills  on  the  credit  of  the  United 
States.’”  “Air.  Langdon  had  rather  reject  the  whole  plan,  than 
retain  the  three  words,  ‘and  emit  bills.’”  Nine  States  voted  to  strike 
out.  Two,  not. 

Mr.  Elbridge  Gerry  declared,  when  the  proposition  to  charter  the 
United  States  Bank  vras  before  Congress,  “that  Congress  had  as  per¬ 
fect  a  right  to  incorporate  a  bank  as  to  adjourn  from  day  to  day.” 
He  had  been  a  member  of  the  Convention,  and  was  a  member  of  Con¬ 
gress  from  1789  to  1793.  He  was  a  Jeffersonian  democrat  of  the  first 
water. 

I  more  than  doubt  the  wisdom  or  expediency  of  ever  creating  a 
corporation  by  either  the  General  or  State  Governments,  for  the  mere 
purpose  of  pecuniary  emolument  to  individuals.  Experience  has  de- 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


9  n  9 

O  0  C> 


monstrated  that  this  species  of  legalized  monopoly  is  ever  liable  to  the 
grossest  abuses.  It  is  odious,  partial,  fraudulent,  oppressive,  irrespon¬ 
sible,  anti-democratic.  It  has  proved  delusive  and  ruinous  to  honest 
conlkling  stockholders ;  and  is  auspicious  only  to  gambling,  adventur¬ 
ous,  reckless  speculators.  Let  our  existing  banks  run  out  their  ap¬ 
pointed  course — or  run  away,  as  many  of  them  have  done  and  are 
doing.  And  let  us  never  grant  another  charter  for  money-making — 
or  for  swindling.  Leave  the  occupation  of  banking,  as  you  do  that 
of  pin-making,  to  the  enterprise,  prudence,  skill,  inclination  and  respon¬ 
sibility  of  individuals — here,  in  this  free  Republic,  as  it  is,  and  ever 
has  been,  in  all  other  countries.  An  act  of  incorporation  for  the 
benefit  of  private  or  associated  money-lenders,  is  no  more  necessary  or 
proper,  than  would  be  a  similar  act  for  mercantile  or  mechanical  firms 
or  copartnerships. 

Who  were  the  popularity  hunters  and  agitators  in  the  army  of  the 
revolution  ?  Conway,  Gates,  etc.  Who,  at  the  close  of  the  war, 
plotted  treason  among  the  officers;  and  tempted  Washington  with 
the  insidious  offer  of  a  crown,  only  to  secure  its  reversion  to  the 
aching  head  of  a  very  different  individual  ?  Who  wrote  the  famous 
“Newburgh  letters?’7  Who  sought  to  inflame  the  minds  of  the  un¬ 
paid  soldiery  to  sedition,  insurrection,  rebellion  ? — to  the  establishment 
of  a  military  reign  under  such  chief  as  they  might  select  ?  Not  Hamil¬ 
ton,  Knox,  Greene,  Schuyler,  Putnam . General  John  Armstrong 

[then  a  Major]  has  told  us.  He,  too,  was  a  popular  democrat  then, 
and  thenceforth,  to  the  end  of  the  chapter.  Colonel  Burr  was  among 
the  earliest  and  most  cherished  leaders  of  the  democracy ;  and  for 
several  years  was  second  only  to  Jefferson.  And  the  “hero  of  Che- 
pachet”  [Dorr]  is  decidedly  the  greatest  democratic  lion  of  the  day, 
[1842.] 

No  man  can  be  certain,  before  trial,  what  lie  will  become  when  in 
office.  “And  Hazael  said,  But  what !  is  thy  servant  a  dog,  that  he 
should  do  this  great  thing  ?  And  Elisha  answered,  The  Lord  hath 
showed  me  that  thou  slialt  be  king  over  Syria.”  (2  Kings,  viii.  13.) 

Old  Federalism.  What  is  it?  Whence  did  it  spring?  What 
was  the  origin  of  the  name ?  How  did  Washington  administer  the 
government?  How  did  Adams?  Why  denounce  Adams  as  the  sole 
author  of  every  odious  or  unpopular  measure  during  his  reign ?  of 
the  alien  and  sedition  laws,  stamp  act,  standing  army,  etc.  ?  when 
all  these  are  chargeable  to  Congress,  that  is,  were  the  acts  of  a  ma¬ 
jority  of  the  people  ;  namely,  of  our  honoured  sires — who  were  neither 
fools  nor  traitors  ? 

09 

- Jj  O 


VOL.  III. 


AMERICAN  DEMOCRACY. 


PART  THIRD. 

II.  Wiiat  can  the  government  do  for  the  people?  I 
answer,  a  vast  deal ;  both  negatively  and  positively. 
“The  world  is  governed  too  much.”  And  excess  is 
always  an  evil.  To  this  evil  we  are  extremely  ob¬ 
noxious.  We  must  try  to  diminish  it.  This  is  the 
first  step  in  the  remedial  process. 

Legislation  may  be  directly,  positively,  purposely,  per¬ 
nicious,  unjust,  oppressive.  It  may  aim  at  good ,  and  yet 
be  evil  in  its  tendency.  It  may  indirectly  occasion  much 
injury.  It  may  operate  insidiously,  speciously,  decep¬ 
tively.  Now  all  legislation  ought  at  least  to  intend  good: 
and  it  should,  moreover,  be  so  wisely  ordered  as  to  pro¬ 
duce  good,  and  only  good.  Every  system  or  act  of  legis¬ 
lation,  tending  directly  or  indirectly  to  the  relaxation 
of  moral  principle,  or  to  the  encouragement  of  immoral 
conduct,  is  bad.  This  is  done  in  many  ways:  As  wThen 
industry  is  impeded  or  discountenanced.  When  tempta¬ 
tions  are  held  forth  to  fraud,  evasion,  concealment,  ve¬ 
nality,  perjury,  embezzlement,  breaches  of  trust,  official 
corruption  or  malversation  —  in  order  to  any  selfish, 
avaricious  or  ambitious  end.  The  morals  of  a  people 
are  more  dependent  on  legislation  than  is  generally 
imagined.  And  where  the  morals  are  depraved,  there 
can  be  no  safety  and  no  happiness. 

(354) 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


355 


The  character  of  any  government  may  be  fairly  tested 
by  the  condition  and  character  of  the  people.  Where 
the  mass  of  the  people  are  most  virtuous,  contented, 
peaceful,  industrious,  frugal,  enlightened,  and  secure  in 
the  enjoyment  of  personal,  religious  and  political  free¬ 
dom —  there  the  government  is  of  the  best  character. 
And  a  contrary  state  of  things  would  argue  the  exist¬ 
ence  of  a  very  bad  government — no  matter  by  what 
technical  name  the  government  may  be  designated. 
Every  form  of  government  may  be  deplorably  vicious 
and  oppressive,  if  corruptly  administered. 

Our  own  country  exhibits,  at  this  moment,  [1842,]  a 
sorry,  repulsive,  disordered,  unhealthy,  cheerless  aspect. 
Something  is  wrong.  Without  war,  famine  or  pestilence, 
the  whole  land  is  tilled  with  murmuring  and  complaint, 
with  poverty,  wretchedness  and  crime.  —  With  frauds, 
forgeries,  defalcations,  bankruptcies,  robberies,  murders, 
arsons,  suicides,  and  profligacy  of  all  sorts  and  degrees.— 
With  a  spirit  of  the  most  reckless  gambling  and  specula¬ 
tion:  of  the  most  degrading  avarice,  the  most  desperate 
ambition,  the  most  fiendlike  violence,  the  most  revolting 
disregard  of  all  human  ties  and  obligations — a  spirit 
which  contemns,  repudiates  and  laughs  to  scorn  every 
principle  of  morality,  of  patriotism,  of  honour,  of  law, 
and  of  religion. 

The  Union  is  in  debt;  the  States  are  in  debt;  the 
cities  and  banks  and  other  corporations  are  in  debt ; 
honest  men  and  rogues  are  in  debt;  and  none  can  pay. 
We  are  destitute  of  credit,  at  home  and  abroad.  We 
have  no  confidence  in  one  another.  Enterprise  and  in- 


356 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


dustry  are  palsied,  checked,  annihilated.  The  people 
are  excited,  alarmed,  terrified.  Treason,  revolution,  re¬ 
bellion  stalk  abroad  at  noonday;  are  abetted,  applauded 
and  cheered  onward — by  those  who  expect  to  profit  by 
the  spoils.  Who  or  what  has  occasioned  all  this  dark¬ 
ness,  perplexity,  ruin  and  dismay?  I  shall  not  accuse 
either  whigs  or  democrats  as  the  guilty  authors. 

But  with  the  actual  facts  and  results  staring  us  full 
in  the  face :  will  any  man  have  the  effrontery  to  pretend 
that  these  calamities  are  not  attributable  to  misgovern- 
ment?  Either  our  system  of  government  is  radically 
defective,  or  it  is  villanously  administered.  Either  its 
machinery  has  been  unskilfully  constructed,  or  its  work¬ 
ing  has  been  intrusted  to  exceedingly  incompetent  and 
unfaithful  hands.  No  people  on  this  earth  could  be  so 
suddenly  prostrated,  dishonoured  and  impoverished,  ex¬ 
cept  by  the  all-pervading  power  and  blighting  influence 
of  a  tyranny  the  most  profligate  and  capricious,  or  the 
most  stolid  and  insane  that  our  world  has  ever  known. 

If  to  all  this,  it  be  replied:  That  with  these  matters 
the  government  has  no  concern:  That  the  people  must 
look  after  their  own  affairs — then  I  rejoin,  that  our  gov¬ 
ernment  is  good  for  nothing:  has  nothing  to  do:  is  a 
nuisance:  and  ought  to  be  forthwith  cashiered,  dissolved, 
repudiated — and  a  better  set  up  in  its  place. 

To  show,  at  a  glance,  the  power  of  legislation  for  weal 
or  wo,  over  the  morals  and  habits  of  a  people,  I  group 
together  a  dozen  or  more  titles  or  topics;  and  leave  them 
without  comment  to  your  own  reflections. 

1.  Taxation . — Good  or  bad,  according  to  kind,  amount, 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


O  C  17 

357 

mode,  objects,  etc.  Tax  consumption  rather  than  produc¬ 
tion;  idleness  rather  than  industry;  luxuries  rather  than 
necessaries ;  foreign  rather  than  domestic  commodities. 
Never  tax  useful  vocations  or  professions  as  privileges . 

2.  Banks. — Brokers.  Currency.  Specie.  Paper.  Credit. 

3.  Tariff. — Bounties.  Duties.  Monopolies. 

4.  Usury  Laics. — Their  object.  Nugatory;  Vexatious. 

5.  Penal  Code.- — Penitentiaries.  Corporal  Punishments. 
Jails.  Prisons.  Houses  of  Befuge. 

6.  Militia  System. — Expensive,  Useless,  Partial. 

7.  Oaths. — Nature,  Uses,  Abuses.  Perjury.  Profanity. 

8.  National  Debt.- — State  Debts.  Banking  capital  bor¬ 
rowed. 

9.  Internal  Improvements.  —  By  the  States  or  by  the 
Nation. 

10.  Popular  Education. — School  Funds.  Public  Schools. 

11.  Licensing  Immoralities  by  taxation.— In  order  to 
check  or  suppress  them.  Sale  of  intoxicating  liquors. 
Taverns.  Gambling  Houses.  Horse-racing.  Theatres. 

12.  Freedom  of  the  Press. — What  is  meant?  Is  it  to 
manufacture  lies  ad  libitum  to  mislead  the  people? 

13.  Equal  Rights. — Personal,  Political,  Religious.  How 
affected  by  legislation. 

14.  Mala  Prohibita. — Smuggling,  Usury,  most  sumptu¬ 
ary  and  municipal  regulations.  Contrasted  with  mala 
in  se. 

15.  Bail. — Suretyship.  All  liabilities  and  responsibili¬ 
ties  assumed  or  imposed,  on  account  of  others. 

16.  Debts  and  Debtors. — Relief  laws.  Stop  laws.  Stay 
laws.  Appraisement  laws.  Insolvent  and  Bankrupt  laws. 


358 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


17.  Forms  of  Trial .  —  Duration.  Expense.  Laws  of 
Evidence.  Qualifications  of  witnesses.  Technicalities. 
Imprisonment  before  conviction.  Rich  and  Poor  on  trial 
for  the  same  offence.  How  differently  treated?  Juries. 
Lawyers. 

18.  The  entire  Judicial  Organization. — Courts.  Judges. 

19.  Political  Heresies. — Nullification.  Repeal  of  Char¬ 
ters.  Proscription  for  mere  opinions.  “To  the  victors 
belong  the  spoils.”  Repudiation  of  State  Debts.  Dissolu¬ 
tion  of  the  Union.  Abolition  of  slavery  by  those  who 
have  no  right  to  meddle  with  the  subject  or  to  agitate 
the  question. 

If  legislation  were  sound  and  judicious  upon  these  and 
all  other  matters,  of  course  we  should  be  well  governed: 
provided  the  laws  were  faithfully  administered.  That 
people,  or  that  constitution  is  “the  freest,  which  makes 
the  best  provision  for  the  enacting  of  expedient  and  salu¬ 
tary  laws.”  (Paley.)  And  that  government  is  the  best, 
which  in  practice  most  completely  fulfils  the  designs  and 
conforms  to  the  provisions  of  its  establishment.  Sta¬ 
bility,  uniformity,  permanence,  durability — steadiness, 
confidence,  firmness,  good  faith,  a  reliable  policy— are 
essential  to  individual  enterprise  and  to  national  pros¬ 
perity.  Any  condition  is  preferable  to  incessant  fluc¬ 
tuations,  changes  and  novel  experiments.  If  we  cannot 
agree  among  ourselves  as  to  what  particular  system  of 
domestic  policy  is  best,  let  us  agree  to  adhere  to  some 
system.  If  life,  property,  character,  industry,  be  duly 
protected ;  we  shall  flourish  under  any  system,  which 
may  be  fixed,  settled  and  perseveringly  maintained. 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


359 


At  present,  there  is  a  loud  cry  of  distress  all  over  the 
land:  and  the  people  expect  relief  in  some  fashion  from 
the  government.  They  want  money:  and  many  demand 
protection  for  their  industrial  pursuits.  Hence  the  war 
about  banks,  currency,  tariff,  bounties,  duties,  taxes :  and 
hence  the  violent  disputes  about  the  fancied  conflicting 
interests  of  the  several  grand  divisions  of  the  Eepublic. 

Banks.  —  1.  As  to  money.  Manifestly,  no  govern¬ 
ment  can  create  it  out  of  nothing.  Tennessee  cannot, 
by  incorporating  banks,  add  one  dollar  to  the  actual  pro¬ 
ductive  capital  of  the  State.  And  to  borrow  money  from 
abroad  on  the  faith  of  the  State,  for  banking  operations 
at  home,  is  a  very  doubtful  policy- — to  say  the  least.  I 
have  no  faith  in  it.  In  such  case,  the  State  becomes  the 
responsible  debtor  to  foreign  capitalists;  and  her  own 
citizens  become  debtors  to  the  State.  She  is  the  great 
home  creditor:  large  numbers  of- the  people  are  her 
debtors.  Now  every  adroit  politician  understands  his 
game  in  this  singular  position  of  aflairs.  He  affects  to 
sympathize  with  the  poor,  unfortunate,  oppressed  debtors 
— who  have  become  debtors  by  borrowing  and  squander¬ 
ing  the  State’s  money — and  he  promises  them  relief  or 
indulgence.  He  represents  them  as  the  victims  of  an 
odious  bank  monopoly.  But  you  know'  the  whole  story : 
the  end  is  always  visible.  The  debtors  get  relief.  Hon¬ 
est  people  bear  the  loss,  and  pay  the  distant  creditor:  or 
the  State  itself  repudiates  the  whole  debt,  and  becomes 
a  voluntary  bankrupt. 

In  the  present  condition  of  the  country  and  of  the 
banks,  it  would  be  difficult  to  keep  in  circulation  here 


360 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


more  paper  than  the  specie  which  it  represents.  Our 
banks  cannot  lend  their  credit,  because  they  have  none. 
And  if  they  had — such  is  the  rage  for  foreign  commodi¬ 
ties,  that  we  are  always  in  debt  to  the  Eastern  cities  or 
to  New  Orleans;  and,  of  course,  every  bank  bill  afloat 
would  be  converted  into  something  receivable  at  those 
remote  markets.  So  that  the  highest  degree  of  bank 
credit  would  be  bootless;  inasmuch  as  its  paper  would 
not  answer  beyond  the  State  limits.  There  was  a  time 
when  confidence  in  a  bank  charter,  esteemed  good  and 
safe,  would  have  invited  investments  from  abroad:  and 
thus  our  available  capital  might  have  been  greatly  aug¬ 
mented  :  as  it  actually  was,  a  few  years  ago.  This  con¬ 
fidence  we  have  abused  and  forfeited.  No  distant  capi¬ 
talist  could  now  be  tempted  to  trust  his  cash  to  our 
management,  under  any  legislative  guarantee  whatever. 
Neither  State  nor  bank  could  dispose  of  stock  at  par,  or 
hardly  half  way  up  to  that  mark.  This  resource  then  is 
tabooed  and  closed  against  us.  Credit  is  not  only  money: 
it  is  always  a  great  deal  better, — especially  for  the  poor, 
honest,  industrious  and  enterprising,  who  would  make  a 
wise  use  of  it. 

Still,  many  conveniences  would  result  to  the  public — 
to  the  labouring  classes — from  a  judiciously  devised  sys¬ 
tem  of  banking,  honestly  and  ably  administered.  Were 
it  only  to  collect  together,  at  some  central  or  commercial 
point,  the  small  sums  of  unemployed  capital  which  are 
scattered  over  the  Commonwealth  without  profit  to  any 
one,  for  the  purpose  of  being  loaned  to  business  men — 
this  would  be  in  itself  a  boon  or  advantage  not  easily 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


3G1 


estimated.  The  lender  and  the  borrower  would  thus 
know  where  to  find  each  other.  Many  thousands  of 
idle  useless  dollars  might  thus  be  gathered  into  a  bank, 
by  fifties  and  hundreds,  [as  in  savings  banks,  by  fives, 
tens,  etc.,]  were  such  an  institution  rendered  perfectly 
trustworthy. 

That  the  existing  bank  system  is  essentially  vicious, 
defective  and  fraudulent,  is  manifest  to  all  men  from  the 
fact,  that  they  have  universally  suspended  for  longer  or 
shorter  periods;  that  many  have  failed  altogether;  and 
that  not  a  few  have  been  most  nefarious  swindling  ma¬ 
chines  from  the  beginning,  and  utterly  ruinous  to  the 
hona  fide  stockholders.  They  have  been  constructed 
upon  erroneous  principles.  The  charters  seem  to  have 
been  drafted  with  a  direct  view  to  the  benefit  of  certain 
bank  officers  and  their  favourites ;  and  on  purpose  to 
deceive  and  rob  their  real  owners.  There  is  a  singular 
obliquity  or  delusion  in  the  public  mind  on  this  subject. 
The  prevalent  idea  is,  that  the  stockholders  are  the 
offending  and  responsible  actors  in  all  cases  of  bank 
frauds  and  delinquencies.  Whereas,  they  are  seldom 
permitted  to  have  any  agency  whatever  in  its  concerns, 
or  any  knowledge  even  of  its  condition  or  proceedings. 
They  are  generally  widows  and  orphans,  or  religious  and 
literary  institutions,  or  quiet,  peaceful,  unsuspicious  citi¬ 
zens,  or  strangers  residing  at  remote  distances:  and  all 
content  with  a  moderate  interest,  and  safety  for  the 
principal  thus  invested.  The  stockholders  of  our  incor¬ 
porated  banks  are  precisely  the  party  which,  above  all 
others,  need  and  deserve  the  special  protection  of  govern- 


362 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOUESES  AND  ESSAYS. 


ment.  They  have  intrusted  their  property — frequently 
their  all — to  banks,  under  the  solemn  guarantee,  as  they 
believe,  of  the  government.  They  have  confided  in  the 
acts  and  plighted  faith  of  their  government:  and  they 
are  justly  entitled  to  its  warranty.  But  for  this  security, 
they  never  would  have  hazarded  a  dollar  in  any  bank. 
They  presumed  that  the  legislature  had  intended  to 
watch  over  and  guard  and  safely  manage  their  money, 
through  the  agency  provided  by  their  own  wisdom  and 
discretion.  What  could  induce  capitalists  in  New  York 
or  Philadelphia  to  send  their  money  to  Tennessee,  to  be 
used  by  the  people  of  Tennessee,  except  a  well-grounded 
assurance  that  the  legislature  of  Tennessee  had  made 
their  banks  perfectly  safe  business-doing  factors  or  sub¬ 
stitutes;  who  would  be  duly  looked  after,  and  held  to 
their  duty,  by  their  masters  who  had  established  them? 
Yet,  let  a  bank  go  wrong,  and  all  the  public  indignation 
is  directed  against  these  innocent,  unconscious,  trustful 
and  cheated  stockholders!  The  absolute  losses  sustained, 
through  a  misplaced  confidence  in  banks  and  other  simi¬ 
lar  corporations,  within  the  last  two  or  three  years,  have 
exceeded  probably  a  hundred  and  fifty  millions! — and 
without  a  shadow  of  fault  on  the  part  of  the  sufferers! 
Such  stupendous  frauds,  under  colour  of  law,  and  almost 
with  the  countenance  and  connivance  of  the  legislature, 
have  no  parallel  in  any  age  or  country.  “The  South 
Sea  Bubble”  in  England,  and  Law’s  famous  bank  and 
Mississippi  hoax  in  France,  are  trifles  in  the  com¬ 
parison. 

What  is  a  corporation  ?  It  is  a  body  or  number  of 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  363 

persons  associated,  according  to  law,  to  do  precisely  what 
any  individual  might  do  without  legal  or  special  grant 
from  the  government.  Such  is  the  received  definition. 
While  in  practice  among  us,  the  reverse  would  seem  to 
be  its  meaning;  namely:  A  bank  corporation  is  a  close 
body  of  twelve  or  fifteen  directors  authorized  to  get  the 
control  of  the  funds  of  some  ten  thousand  credulous  men 
and  women;  and  therewith  to  do  what  no  individual  can 
do  according  to  law,  or  without  risk  of  reputation  and  the 
penitentiary. 

But  why  not  allow  an  individual  to  do  what  a  corpo¬ 
ration  may  lawfully  do?  Is  the  latter  more  trustworthy? 
Experience  shows  that  in  every  instance  the  corporation 
has  been  faithless:*  while  some  individuals  have  proved 
faithful.  In  Europe,  individual  bankers,  or  mere  private 
firms  of  two  or  three  persons,  have  universally  sustained 
their  credit  better  than  corporations  owned  by  hundreds 
or  thousands,  and  governed  by  a  dozen  irresponsible  offi¬ 
cers : — who  are  more  interested  as  borroivers  than  as 
owners  and  lenders.  Men  always  manage  their  own 
affairs  more  prudently  and  efficiently  than  do  servants 
and  agents.  Here  is  the  secret  of  sound  banking.  Let 
the  real  owner  of  the  capital  employ  it  as  best  suits  his 
own  interest.  Ilis  object  is  to  lend  his  money  on  good 
security :  not  to  borrow  it,  or  hand  it  over  to  wild  specu¬ 
lators,  who  will  return  neither  interest  or  principal. 

Such  is  the  Scottish  system  of  banking.  A  few  small 

*  All  the  banks,  I  believe,  suspended  specie  payment  in  1837  :  and 
most  of  them  again  in  1839:  as  they  had  done  before  during  the  late 
war  with  Great  Britain. 


364 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


capitalists  unite  tlieir  funds,  form  a  company,  as  they 
would  a  commercial  partnership,  open  a  bank,  attend  to 
their  own  business,  loan  out  small  sums  to  hundreds  of 
their  well-known  industrious  neighbours,  charge  interest 
on  what  is  actually  drawn  from  bank,  allow  interest  upon 
whatever  is  deposited  by  the  debtors;  and  are  responsible 
to  the  entire  extent  of  their  respective  private  fortunes. 
This  mode  has  prevailed  in  Scotland  more  than  a  cen¬ 
tury,  and  but  a  single  failure  has  occurred — and  that  for 
only  about  thirty  thousand  pounds.  No  act  of  incorpo¬ 
ration  is  necessary.  Banking  firms  are,  like  all  others, 
regulated  by  general  laws,  and  are  formed  by  individuals 
at  pleasure.  The  Scottish  capital  is  thus  kept  at  home, 
used  at  home,  and  applied  to  the  promotion  of  home 
industry.  Any  honest  mechanic,  farmer,  merchant,  law¬ 
yer,  doctor,  parson  or  schoolmaster,  with  two  good  names 
on  his  paper,  can  always  get  from  the  nearest  bank  what¬ 
ever  he  needs  to  start  in  the  world  with — fiftv  or  a  hun- 

•/ 

drcd  pounds,  it  may  be,  more  or  less.  The  bank  runs  no 
risk  by  such  loans.  It  rarely  loses  a  debt:  because  three 
men  will  seldom  prove  unable  to  pay  a  few  pounds.  Its 
gains,  though  moderate,  are  steady  and  sure.  Such  banks 
have  been  of  infinite  service  to  bonny  Scotland. 

If  the  profession  or  business  of  banking  cannot,  like 
other  vocations,  be  open  to  all  men,  subject  to  the  laws 
of  the  land,  as  in  Europe,  we  must  have  State  banks,  or 
a  national  bank,  or  none  at  all.  The  evils  of  the  present 
system  are  manifold,  inherent,  radical,  incurable.  Better 
have  no  banks,  than  such  as  now  exist.  They  have  not 
only  violated  their  charters;  but  the  charters  themselves 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


365 


are  essentially  vicious,  contradictory  in  their  several  pro¬ 
visions,  and  altogether  impracticable  when  strictly  con¬ 
strued.  They  allow  the  issue  of  two  or  three  times  as 
much  paper  as  they  [the  banks]  have  specie,  while  they 
enjoin  constant  cash  payments  on  demand:  and  while 
the  State  cannot  possibly  obtain  or  create  a  credit  for 
its  banks  beyond  its  own  geographical  limits.  So  that 
a  State  bank  could  not  safely  put  into  circulation  a 
paper  currency  much  exceeding  its  actual  ability  at  any 
moment  to  redeem  or  replace  with  specie.  [A  national 
bank  may  render  its  notes  equally  valuable  as  gold,  or 
more  so,  everywhere  throughout  the  Union,  by  using  the 
faith  of  the  nation,  and  by  making  the  paper  receivable 
at  all  points  for  dues  to  the  government.] 

No  State  shall  “emit  bills  of  credit;”  or  “make  any¬ 
thing  but  gold  and  silver  coin  a  tender  in  payment  of 
debts.”  This  article  of  the  constitution  cannot  be  altered, 
modified  or  abrogated  by  State  legislation.  A  State, 
therefore,  cannot  create  a  paper  currency;  cannot  emit 
bills  of  credit;  and  ought  not  to  do  indirectly  what  it 
cannot  do  directly.  Qui  facit  per  alium,  facit  per  se.  It 
ought  not  to  accomplish  by  banks  or  by  any  other  agency 
what  is  expressly  forbidden  to  itself.  State  banks  ought 
to  possess  no  privileges  or  prerogatives  which  are  denied 
to  individuals.  Their  notes,  payable  at  sight,  ought  al¬ 
ways  to  be  the  mere  sign  or  representative  of  specie,  and 
always  exchangeable,  the  one  for  the  other.  So  that 
there  never  might  or  could  be  a  depreciated  State  paper 
currency — the  very  evil  which  the  constitution  intended 
to  provide  against  and  utterly  to  prevent.  Our  people 


O  r>  n 

OUO 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


have  expected  more  from  banks  than  they  are  calculated 
to  afford  under  any  circumstances. 

But  if  we  will  have  State  stock  banks,  the  remedies 
for,  or  rather  preventives  of,  mischievous  banking,  are 
the  following,  namely:  1.  Good  charters.  2.  Competent 
and  faithful  directors  and  other  officers :  who  have  no 
interest  in  them  except  as  stockholders,  or  no  interest 
which  is  not  subordinate  to  that  of  the  stockholders. 
3.  Moderate  loans:  and  always  to  punctual  solvent  men 
—as  in  Scotland.  4.  No  director  or  other  officer  to  bor¬ 
row  money,  under  the  heaviest  penalties.  5.  No  voting 
by  proxy.  6.  No  oaths  or  obligations  of  secrecy.  No 
mysteries.  7.  No  officious  or  vexatious  meddling  by 
government,  contrary  to  charters.  8.  The  interests  or 
rights  of  stockholders  to  be  protected  against  all  hazards. 
These  are  always  identical  with  the  public  interest.  9. 
Directors  should  be  few  in  number — three  or  five  are 
enough — and  be  paid  a  per  diem  for  their  services,  by 
vote  of  the  stockholders.  10.  President,  Cashier,  etc.  to 
be  paid  salaries,  fixed  in  like  manner  by  the  stockholders. 
11.  Directors  and  executive  officers  to  be  held  absolutely 
responsible  for  every  species  of  mismanagement,  whether 
the  result  of  neglect  and  ignorance,  or  of  deliberate  ras¬ 
cality.  Punish  them  by  forfeiture  of  their  private  for¬ 
tunes,  or  by  imprisonment  at  hard  labour;  or  hang  them, 
if  they  deserve  it.  In  order  to  the  safe  management  of 
a  properly  organized  bank,  the  directors  ought  to  conduct 
its  affairs  as  the  legal  agents  or  attorneys  of  the  share¬ 
holders.  Their  business  therefore  is  to  lend  money,  not 
to  borrow:  and  to  carry  out  or  execute  all  the  purposes 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


367 


and  provisions  of  the  charter  in  good  faith.  12.  No 
favouritism.  No  accommodations  to  relatives  or  friends 
or  great  men  or  bold  speculators.  No  loan  to  the  same 
drawers  and  endorsers,  exceeding  a  certain  specified 
amount.  13.  The  books  to  be  always  open  to  the  in¬ 
spection  of  the  real  owners.  14.  Security  for  the  note¬ 
holders,  is  simple  convertibility  of  notes  into  dollars. 
The  same  will  prevent  undue  expansions  and  sudden 
contractions  of  the  currency.* 

2.  A  Paper  Currency ,  of  some  kind,  is  indispensable 
here,  elsewhere,  in  every  civilized  commercial  country. 
No  political  party  can  sustain  the  constitutional  govern¬ 
ment  of  this  great  republic  without  it.  The  controversy 


*  Banks  are  generally  gat  up:  1.  By  men  who  intend  to  speculate 
in  the  stock.  They  subscribe  largely;  perhaps,  for  the  whole  capital. 
Pay  one  or  twTo  instalments  by  stock  notes ;  cause  the  stock  to  rise  in 
the  market  by  the  usual  puffing  and  misrepresentation ;  get  into  the 
Directory;  and,  at  the  right  time,  sell  out,  at  a  great  advance  above 
par,  to  simple  honest  people,  who  pay  up  in  full  and  in  good  money. 
The  latter  thus  become  the  bona  fide  stockholders  :  though  never 
allowed  any  agency  in  the  government  of  the  bank  or  any  knowledge 
of  its  actual  condition.  They  are  always  cheated. 

2.  By  men  whose  main  object  is  to  secure  the  lucrative  offices,  as 
President,  Cashier,  etc. 

3.  By  men,  who,  as  Directors,  intend  to  borrow  for  themselves  or 
friends  the  whole  of  the  bank  funds,  etc. 

These  several  classes  generally  unite  and  co-operate  for  their  mutual 
benefit — or  they  are  identical. 

Thus  banks,  commenced  in  the  most  fraudulent  manner  and  man¬ 
aged  by  the  most  rascally  agents  and  speculators,  are  at  length  owned 
by  honest  men  wdiose  interests  are  utterly  disregarded,  and  who  have 
no  voice  or  influence  in  or  over  their  proceedings.  In  this  way,  thou¬ 
sands  of  innocent  persons  have  been  swindled  out  of  their  property,  in 
every  part  of  the  country. 


36S 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


then  is  reduced  to  a  mere  choice  of  modes  and  plans,  of 
forms  and  systems.  Between  treasury  notes  and  bank 
notes,  it  may  be.  Or  between  those  of  different  kinds  of 
banks.  As  banks  of  a  mixed  character,  like  the  former 
United  States  banks;  or  mere  government  banks,  like 
those  of  Russia,  Austria — and  Law’s,  as  it  became  under 
the  Regent.  In  behalf  of  the  former,  [such  as  the  United 
States  banks,]  it  may  be  said:  The  stockholders  manage 
the  bank  at  their  own  cost;  serve  the  public  or  the  gov¬ 
ernment  for  nothing;  take  good  care  of  their  own  inter¬ 
ests,  [i.e.  would  do  so,  could  they  get  an  honest  Directory 
— such  as  I  have  already  described;]  which  are  identical 
with,  or  inseparable  from,  those  of  the  public ;  do  not 
over-issue,  or  flood  the  land  with  a  depreciated  and  irre¬ 
deemable  paper  currency,  as  governments  are  prone  to 
do,  have  done,  and  are  still  doing  in  several  European 
countries. 

Possibly  a  national  bank,  owned  by  the  Federal  Gov¬ 
ernment  and  the  States,  in  due  proportions,  might  be 
made  superior  to  any  other;  or,  at  least,  more  acceptable 
to  the  people.  It  would  probably  enlist  a  State  sentiment 
in  its  favour.  By  excluding  private  or  individual  stock¬ 
holders,  there  would  be  no  ground  of  complaint  about  a 
“ moneyed  aristocracy,”  “rag  barons,”  “foreign  capitalists 
and  foreign  influence,”  “favouritism,”  and  interferences 
with  elections  or  public  affairs.  There  would  be  no  scope 
for  gambling  speculations  in  the  stock ;  as  no  part  or 
share  could  ever  come  into  private  hands.  It  would  all 
be  national  or  State  property.  It  would  be  managed  for 
the  benefit  of  the  whole  people.  Subscription  by  a  State, 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


3G9 


or  the  acceptance  of  her  allotted  portion  of  stock  by  a 
State,  would  be  voluntary.  And,  of  course,  there  could 
be  no  forcing  of  a  branch  into  any  State.  No  infringe¬ 
ment,  direct  or  implied,  upon  her  dignity  or  sovereignty 
could  be  fancied  or  suspected.  This  apple  of  discord,  at 
least,  would  be  withheld.*  Or,  at  worst,  the  bank,  if 


*  President  Tyler  vetoed  two  bills  to  establish  a  national  bank, 
passed  by  Congress  at  their  extra  session  in  1841,  chiefly  because  he 
deemed  it  unconstitutional  to  locate  a  “ branch”  in  any  State  without 
its  consent :  and  because  such  bank  ought  not  to  discount  private 
paper,  etc.  We  may  ask:  Why  so  afraid  of  doing  the  people  a  small 
favour  even  indirectly  and  incidentally  ?  If  there  must  be  some  kind 
of  contrivance  or  machinery  or  fiscal  agency — very  like  a  bank — to 
carry  on  the  business  or  operations  of  the  government:  why  not  suffer 
the  people  to  share  its  casual  benefits,  especially  when  the  government 
will  receive  no  harm  ?  Why  make  a  bank  for  exchanges  only,  and 
refuse  it  the  power  of  discounting  ordinary  business  notes  ?  Who 
could  be  injured  by  the  latter?  Is  anybody  compelled  to  deal  with 
the  bank?  If  the  people  like  the  “monster,”  and  choose  to  caress  it, 
why  object  ? 

Why  so  much  ado  about  sending  a  “branch”  into  a  State  without 
its  consent  ?  Do  you  ever  ask  its  consent,  when  you  send  it  judges, 
marshals,  attorneys,  postmasters,  etc.  ?  Are  not  foreigners  even  per¬ 
mitted  to  establish  themselves  anywhere,  and  to  pursue  any  vocation 
ad  libitum ?  not  excepting  the  borrowing  and  lending  of  money — the 
buying  and  selling  of  “exchanges”  —  or  the  discounting  of  notes? 
This,  and  more,  they  may  do  for  their  own  advantage.  So  may  the 
Bank  of  England,  or  any  European  bank,  by  their  agencies,  all  over 
the  country.  While  in  the  case  of  the  4 'branch,”  the  benefit  accrues 
to  the  people.  It  is  sent  to  them  with  that  object  expressly  in  view. 
The  aim  or  intention  therefore  is  good — is  benevolent.  The  people 
ask  for  this  very  boon.  They  beg  the  government  to  give  them  a 
bank.  They  entreat — they  pray — for  this  precious  favour.  No,  says 
the  President.  The  constitution  won’t  allow  me.  Or  rather,  my 
“conscience”  will  not  consent.  I  have  a  character  at  stake.  It 
would  be  dreadful  to  appear  inconsistent.  My  reputation  is  worth 
more  than  any  law  of  Congress — more  than  your  interests — more  than 

vol.  hi. — 24 


370 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


corruptly  governed,  would  pass,  like  all  other  public 
treasures,  as  spoils  to  the  victorious  office-holders  of  the 
party  regnant. 

A  paper  currency,  issued  by  the  general  government, 
would  be  everywhere  equally  valuable.  While  receiva¬ 
ble  by  government  for  all  debts  and  taxes,  and  while 
properly  regulated  and  restricted  as  to  quantity,  it  could 
never  be  depreciated  below  specie.  In  general  and  in 
most  places,  (especially  those  most  remote  from  the  prin¬ 
cipal  seaports,)  it  would  be  more  valuable  than  silver 
and  gold.  It  would  everywhere  command  coin  dollar  for 
dollar.  While,  in  many  places ,  it  would  sell  for  a  specie 
premium  in  the  open  market.  The  reason  is  obvious. 
Gold  and  silver  are  not,  and  cannot  be  made,  equally 
valuable  everywhere.  They  are  worth  more  in  Nash¬ 
ville  than  in  New  York  or  New  Orleans;  because  they 
cost  more  to  get  them  here.  [The  expense  of  trans¬ 
portation — the  charges,  namely,  for  freight,  insurance, 

And  yet  a 

Nashville  merchant,  with  dollars  in  hand,  must  pay  a 


etc.  must  always  enter  into  the  account.] 


the  deliberate  and  loudly  proclaimed  judgment  of  two-thirds  of  the 
people, — and  of  all  our  reverend  sages,  past,  present,  and  to  come ! 
Immaculate  conscience  !  Magnanimous  spirit !  Glorious  character ! 
How  heroic  ! 

N.B. — The  officers  of  a  “branch”  would  generally  be  citizens  of  the 
State  where  it  is  established.  Nothing  therefore  would  be  sent  or 
forced  into  a  State,  except  capital — that  is,  money — for  the  sole  but 
voluntary  use  of  the  people.  If  they  do  not  like  it,  they  need  not 
touch  it. 

I  have  assumed  above,  that  the  people  really  wish  to  have  a  bank. 
This  may  or  may  not  be  the  fact.  The  President’s  position  however 
remains  unaffected  in  either  case. 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


371 


premium  of  two  or  three  per  cent,  for  a  bill  of  exchange 
at  sight  to  discharge  a  debt  in  New  York,  or  to  enable 
him  to  purchase  goods. 

“The  Congress  shall  have  power  to  lay  and  collect 
taxes,  duties,  imposts  and  excises,  to  pay  the  debts  and 
provide  for  the  common  defence  and  general  welfare  of 
the  United  States;  but  all  duties,  imposts  and  excises 
shall  be  uniform  throughout  the  United  States.”  ( Consti¬ 
tution »,  Art.  I.,  Sec.  8,  1.)  How  can  they  be  uniform , 
unless  payable  in  or  by  an  article  of  invariable  value 
throughout  the  Union  ?  Wheat,  tobacco,  cotton,  rice, 
sugar,  coffee,  pork,  potatoes,  would  not  answer.  Neither 
would  gold  or  silver.  These,  like  other  commodities,  are 
worth  more  or  less  at  different  points,  or  in  different 
markets.  Paper  alone  will  meet  the  exigency — a  paper 
everywhere  current;  and  which  costs  nothing  to  send  it 
from  one  city  or  town  to  another,  however  remote.  Such 
was  the  character  of  United  States  Bank  paper. 

The  Congress  shall  have  power — “To  coin  money, 
regulate  the  value  thereof,  and  of  foreign  coin,”  *  *  * 
( Constitution ,  Art.  I.,  Sec.  8,  5.)  How  is  the  value  of 
coin  to  be  fixed  or  regulated,  except  by  some  rule,  meas¬ 
ure  or  standard — like  paper?  Nor  is  it  of  any  conse¬ 
quence  quoad  hoc  whether  the  paper  be  above,  or  below, 
or  equal  to  par ,  as  it  is  called.  It  is  itself  a  fixed,  invari¬ 
able  quantity.  Gold  and  silver,  corn  and  iron,  may  vary 
in  reference  to  it:  but  it  changes  not.  It  would  be  uni¬ 
form  throughout  the  Union,  People,  paying  in  this 
paper,  would  everywhere  pay  the  same  value — and  no 
mistake.  The  constitution,  then,  makes  it  the  impera- 


372  MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 

tive  duty  of  the  government  to  create  a  bank,  or  to  issue 
a  paper  currency  of  some  sort. 

Moreover,  a  paper  currency  has  this  decided  advant¬ 
age  over  every  other  circulating  medium,  especially  over 
gold  and  silver,  namely:  that  any  amount,  greater  or 
less,  may  be  lost,  burnt,  buried  in  the  ocean  or  in  the 
Mississippi,  without  any  loss  to  the  State  or  nation  or 
public  or  government.  Even  if  the  destruction  of  a  bank 
bill  should  prove  a  total  loss  to  the  owner,  it  will  be  a 
gain  to  the  bank.  Whereas  the  loss  of  gold  or  silver  is 
a  loss  to  both  the  owner  and  the  public.  It  is  the  anni¬ 
hilation  of  value.  All  lose:  none  gain.  Further,  mat¬ 
ters  might  be  so  contrived,  that  the  loss  or  destruction 
of  a  bank  or  treasury  note,  or  of  a  paper  title  of  any  sort, 
should  not  injure  any  party.  Just  as  the  loss  of  a  prom¬ 
issory  note  or  bond,  or  of  a  title  deed  to  land,  may  not  of 
necessity  involve  the  utter  loss  of  either  debt  or  land. 
The  Book  of  Record  will  serve  as  evidence  in  either  and 
in  all  cases. 

Highway  robbery  has  been  greatly  diminished  by  the 
general  use  of  paper  money.  Men  seldom  travel  with 
large  sums  of  gold  and  silver,  as  formerly  they  were 
accustomed  to  do. 

Coin  is  daily  growing  lighter  by  use — i.e.  by  friction — • 
by  ordinary  wear  and  tear.  It  is  liable  to  injury  from 
clipping,  counterfeiting  and  various  modes  of  debase¬ 
ment.  The  practice  too  of  sweating  gold; — that  is,  by 
certain  chemical  applications,  taking  away  some  fifteen 
or  twenty-five  per  cent,  of  the  metal,  and  leaving  the 
general  appearance  of  the  coin  the  same  as  before; — has 
become  quite  common,  both  in  Europe  and  in  this  coun- 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  373 

try.  It  has  already  deteriorated  the  English  gold  circu¬ 
lation  to  such  an  extent  as  to  render  it  necessary  to  call 
in  the  whole  mass  for  recoinage  at  the  mint,  (1842.) 
[Note  also  the  galvanic  process  of  coating,  or  covering, 
or  plating,  or  gilding  the  baser  metals  with  gold  so  as  to 
deceive  the  most  cautious.] 

Government  Paper.  Suppose  we  cannot  get  a  national 
bank:  may  we  not  have  a  national  paper  currency?  Cer¬ 
tainly  we  may.  First.  Instead  of  paying  gold  and  silver 
from  the  treasury,  [when  they  happen  to  be  in  it,]  notes, 
prepared  like  bank  bills,  payable  to  bearer,  might  be 
issued.  These  would  be  the  precise  sign  or  representa¬ 
tive  of  the  specie  on  hand- — nothing  more.  No  addition 
would  thereby  be  made  to  the  amount  of  the  current 
money  or  of  the  national  capital.  Still,  many  of  the 
advantages  already  specified  might  result  from  this  mere 
substitution  of  paper  for  specie.  It  would  be  of  uniform 

and  invariable  value  everywhere — could  be  transmitted 

* 

without  cost,  etc.  Second.  A  national  debt,  (whenever 
so  unfortunate  as  to  have  one,)  to  the  amount  of  twenty 
or  thirty  millions  of  dollars,  might  be  put  into  the  form 
of  government  or  treasury  notes  of  all  sizes,  like  bank 
notes;  and  thus  be  paid  out  and  circulated  as  money 
among  the  people.  This  would  be  a  clear  addition  to 
the  currency,  above  the  actual  specie  in  the  market; 
and  might  possibly  prove  a  public  benefit.  It  would 
be  equally  valuable,  so  long  as  received  by  the  govern¬ 
ment  in  payment  of  all  dues,  and  while  properly  limited 
in  amount.  It  would  facilitate  exchanges.  The  paper 
could  be  used  in  lieu  of  commercial  drafts;  and  the  ex¬ 
pense  of  remittances  would  scarcely  exceed  the  postage. 


374 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


NOTES. 

1.  Great  Expense  of  Banks.  —  The  excessive  multiplication  of 
banks  by  the  States  is  a  grievous  burden  upon  the  people,  on  the 
score  of  expense  alone — even  were  they  ably  managed.  There  are  in 
Tennessee  about  twenty  banks — principals  and  branches — with  from 
five  to  ten  salaried  officers  each ;  besides  from  seven  to  fifteen  di¬ 
rectors.  Allowing  to  each  bank  six  executive  officers,  we  have  one 
hundred  and  twenty  persons  employed,  at  an  average  salary,  say  of 
$1000,  or  a  total  of  $120,000  per  annum,  to  superintend  a  bad  cur¬ 
rency.  Then  twenty  banking  houses  at  a  rent  charge  of  $1000,  or 
$20,000  a  year  for  the  whole.  Then  insurances,  contingencies,  losses 
by  bad  debts  and  rogueries  of  all  sorts,  may  reach  to  any  indefinitely 
large  sum.  But  set  these  down  at  only  $60,000  a  year.  We  then 
have  a  total  annual  tax  or  charge  of  $200,000  imposed  on  the  good 
people  of  Tennessee,  in  order  to  be  furnished  with  a  very  poor  substi¬ 
tute  for  United  States  Bank  paper. 

There  are  some  900  or  1000  similar  banks  in  the  United  States, 
which,  at  the  same  rates  as  the  above,  cost  the  nation  nine  or  ten 
millions  annually.  In  like  manner,  there  are  not  fewer  probably  than 
five  or  six  thousand  salaried  officers,  and  from  ten  to  twenty  thousand 
directors.  Seasonable  scope  here  for  peculation,  political  patronage, 
favouritism,  intrigue  and  genteel  idleness  ! 

2.  From  a  mere  reading  of  the  constitution,  one  might  infer  that 
the  federal  government  alone  had  the  right  to  charter  banks.  That 
the  States  retained  no  right  whatever  to  meddle  with  the  currency,  or 
to  emit  paper  money  or  “bills  of  credit,’7  in  any  form,  or  under  any 
guise.  This  would  be  a  legitimate  inference  or  construction,  were  it 
not  that  several  State  banks  existed  at  the  time  when  the  Convention 
framed  the  constitution,  viz. : — 

(1.)  The  Bank  of  North  America,  (then  a  Pennsylvania  bank,) 
instituted  in  1181. 

(2.)  Massachusetts  Bank,  at  Boston,  1784. 

(3.)  Bank  of  New  York,  at  New  York,  1784. 

3.  The  States  could  not  reserve  to  themselves  the  sole  right  of 
creating  a  national  banking  corporation,  or  a  bank  which  could  fur¬ 
nish  a  uniform  currency  throughout  the  Union,  because  they  never 
possessed  either  the  right  or  the  power.  They  could  not  do  it,  if 
they  would. 

4.  A  National  Currency. — “  The  indispensable  elements  of  a  na- 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


o  hr  rr 

375 

tional  currency  must  combine:  1.  Uniformity ;  2.  Safety;  3.  Conve¬ 
nience;  4.  Convertibility;  5.  And  entire  public  confidence.  Invarin- 
bility  of  value  is  the  great  desideratum  of  currency.  So  great  is  the 
advantage  of  a  paper  currency  over  a  metallic,  that  its  tendency  is 
rather  to  increase  than  diminish  in  value,  when  the  basis  is  perfectly 
secure  ;  and  no  greater  security  can  possibly  be  given,  than  the  plighted 
faith  of  the  government,  to  whose  hands  are  confided  the  fortunes, 
lives  and  honour  of  the  people.  This  is  the  highest  of  all  possible 
human  security.”  ( Madisonian ,  1841.  The  official  organ  of  Tyler’s 
administration.) 

5.  Are  banks  monopolies ?  If  so,  who  created  them?  Who  is 
responsible  for  their  doings?  Who  culpable,  etc.  ? 

6.  Are  bank  charters  contracts ?  If  so,  ought  they  not  to  be  ful¬ 
filled  in  good  faith ;  even  when  they  prove  bad  bargains  to  the  people 
who  made  them  ? 


AMERICAN  DEMOCRACY. 


PART  FOURTH. 

Tariff,  Taxation,  Bounties,  Free  Trade,  Revenue,  Pro¬ 
tection. 

The  technical  term  tariff)  as  used  in  our  country, 
means  a  list  or  table  of  duties  or  customs  to  be  paid 
on  goods  imported — according  to  some  fixed  scale  or 
uniform  system.  Without  attempting  any  formal,  elab¬ 
orate  or  scientific  discussion  of  this  complex,  exciting, 
vexatious  and  much  controverted  subject;  I  merely  sub¬ 
mit  my  general  views,  in  few  words,  under  the  following 
heads.  I  remark: — 

1.  That,  as  a  mode  of  taxation,  it  is  preferable  to  all 
others.  It  is  a  tax  on  consumption — chiefly  on  luxuries 
— and  is  always  voluntary.  It  is  infinitely  better,  or  less 
injurious,  than  a  tax  on  land,  or  upon  production,  or 
than  any  species  of  direct  tax  whatever.  Here,  again, 
Mr.  Jefferson  was  orthodox.  Among  the  first  acts  of 
his  administration,  was  the  repeal  of  the  internal  or 
direct  taxes  of  every  kind.  ( Tucker ,  vol.  ii.  p.  113.)  This 
is  high  authority  and  safe  precedent  for  both  whigs  and 
democrats. 

2.  It  is  perfectly  equal — in  all  sections  of  the  republic, 
and  upon  all  classes  of  the  people.  It  operates  on  indi¬ 
viduals  everywhere — as  much  so  in  Massachusetts  as  in 

(376) 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


377 


South  Carolina.  The  individual  consumer  of  the  foreign 
goods  always  pays  ;  and  in  exact  proportion  to  the  amount 
consumed.  It  favours  none — oppresses  none.  It  is  not, 
and  cannot  be,  sectional  or  local  or  partial  in  its  applica¬ 
tion.  It  is  the  fairest  and  most  equitable  plan  of  supply¬ 
ing  the  necessities  of  an  economical  government  which 
human  wisdom  can  devise. 

3.  The  interests  of  all  classes  and  professions — the 
farmer,  planter,  mechanic,  merchant,  manufacturer — are 
identical  and  inseparable.  You  cannot  depress  one  class 
of  producers,  without  injury  to  all  the  rest.  There  is  no 
ground,  therefore,  for  jealousy  or  hostility  on  the  part  of 
any  one  class  or  vocation  towards  another. 

4.  A  distinction  ought  to  be  made  between  a  tariff  for 
revenue,  and  a  tariff  for  the  protection  and  encourage¬ 
ment  of  home  industry.  A  tariff  strictly  for  revenue,  is 
not  intended  to  prevent  or  to  check  importation.  Other¬ 
wise  it  would  defeat  its  avowed  design.  With  this  single 
object  in  view,  a  judicious  tariff  would  never  be  higher 
than  the  actual  condition  of  commerce  could  bear  with¬ 
out  diminishing  the  dutiable  commodities  in  number  or 
quantity.  It  should  be  as  light  as  the  exigencies  of  gov¬ 
ernment  would  permit.  And  should  be  laid  on  luxuries 
rather  than  upon  necessaries — upon  wine  rather  than  on 
coffee.  It  is  a  tax:  and  all  taxes  are  onerous,  and  gener¬ 
ally  odious.  It  is  difficult  to  persuade  the  people  that  a 
tax  is  a  good  thing — a  desirable  measure — a  real  favour 
to  themselves.  They  are  naturally  and  justly  suspicious 
whenever  they  are  told  about  the  blessings  of  taxation. 
They  do  not  readily  perceive  how  the  taking  of  their 


378 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


money  is  to  enrich  or  benefit  them.  They  have  a  shrewd 
notion  that  more  is  meant  than  meets  the  ear.  That  it 
is  all  a  cunning  Yankee  scheme  to  get  money  out  of  their 
pockets  under  false  pretences;  and  for  very  selfish  pur¬ 
poses.  That  a  tariff,  in  short,  is  neither  more  nor  less 
than  a  robbery  of  the  many  for  the  benefit  of  the  few — 
or  of  the  South  to  enrich  the  North. 

It  were,  perhaps,  a  wiser  policy  at  once  to  discriminate 
between  the  articles  which  we  must  import  from  abroad, 
and  those  which  we  intend  to  produce  or  manufacture  at 
home.  Upon  the  first,  levy  a  sufficient  impost  or  tax  to 
meet  the  wants  of  government;  and  prohibit  the  importa¬ 
tion  of  the  latter  altogether :  either  by  a  forfeiture  of  the 
cargo,  or  by  other  penalties;  or  by  so  heavy  a  duty  as 
must  soon  put  an  end  to  the  traffic.  The  people  would 
then  understand  the  whole  subject.  Two  distinct  ob¬ 
jects  would  be  placed  before  them.  The  one,  revenue: 
the  other,  the  exclusion  of  all  foreign  goods,  which  could 
compete  or  interfere  with  domestic  industry.  The  first 
is  a  tax — nothing  more.  It  will  be  regarded  and  paid 
as  a  tax  without  complaint,  if  reasonable  and  moderate. 
In  the  other  case,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  government  is 
aiming  directly  to  foster  and  sustain  certain  kinds,  or 
rather  all  practicable  kinds,  of  home  production ;  and 
that  a  tariff  for  this  end,  wras  never  designed  as  a  tax , 
but  as  a  preventive — as  an  obstacle  in  the  way  of  the 
foreigner — as  a  guarantee  of  a  clear  field  and  ample  mar¬ 
ket  for  the  American  labourer.  Who  would  object  to 
this?  The  universal  cry  is,  or  has  been,  the  want  of 
something  to  do — that  is  worth  doing.  Every  sensible 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


379 


reflecting  man  among  us  sees,  knows,  and,  if  honest, 
avows,  that  we  must  learn  to  manufacture,  as  well  as 
grow,  the  raw  material.  If  a  tariff  of  a  thousand  per 
cent,  on  the  foreign  manufacture,  would  lead  to  this 
result,  we  ought  to  pray  for  the  boon.  Still,  inasmuch 
as  we  are  eternally  mystified  and  humbugged  by  the 
term  tariff)  I  would  not  employ  it  in  this  connexion. 
I  would  instead,  call  the  thousand  per  cent,  a  penalty — 
a  fine — imposed  on  the  European  capitalist  who  should 
dare  to  violate  our  laws,  by  sending  his  wares  into  our 
ports  to  the  injury  of  our  own  honest  labourers.  Here 
would  be  no  tax — not  even  the  semblance  of  extortion 
or  oppression.  It  would  be  direct,  positive,  manifest  pro¬ 
tection.  And  all  the  people  would  rejoice  and  prosper 
together:  if  the  demagogue  will  let  them  alone. 

5.  The  grand  desideratum  is,  to  bring  as  nearly  to¬ 
gether  as  possible,  all  classes  of  producers — the  farmer, 
manufacturer,  merchant.  Then  a  mutual  exchange  of 
their  respective  commodities  can  be  readily,  cheaply  and 
profitably  effected.  Manufacturing  cities,  towns  and  vil¬ 
lages  spring  up  in  the  midst  of  agricultural  districts;  and 
the  whole  country  assumes  a  cheerful  flourishing  aspect. 

6.  There  can  be  no  monopoly  in  such  cases.  Exclude 
the  foreign  competitor;  and  the  competition  immediately 
commences  among  our  own  citizens.  Let  any  man,  or 
set  of  men,  engage  in  manufacturing  cotton,  for  example; 
and  should  the  business  prove  lucrative,  others  will  enter 
upon  the  same  vocation  —  and  others  still  —  until  the 
profits  are  reduced  to  the  lowest  scale  or  value  of  pro¬ 
ductive  capital  in  other  investments.  The  goods  will  be 


380 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


supplied  at  lower  prices  by  the  home  manufacturer  than 
ever  before  by  the  foreigner.  Such  is  the  natural,  uni¬ 
versal  and  inevitable  course  and  result  of  all  free  compe¬ 
tition.  Our  past  experience  proves  it.  It  is  absurd  to 
talk  of  a  monopoly  of  any  profitable  business  which  is 
equally  open  to  the  competition  of  fifteen  millions  of 
enterprising  freemen.  Or  even  if  limited  to  the  citizens 
of  several  States,  the  scope  for  competition  will  still 
extend  to  millions,  and  thus  render  any  approach  to 
monopoly  impracticable. 

7.  No  country  has  ever  prospered  long  or  greatly  with¬ 
out  manufactures.  A  purely  agricultural  country  is  never 
rich  or  powerful.  Poland  and  Turkey  may  illustrate  the 
truism.  Russia  has  learned  the  grand  secret  of  national 
strength  and  greatness;  and  is  sagaciously  devoting  her 
wisdom  and  energies  to  the  protection  and  increase  of 
her  domestic  manufacturing  industry.  Her  immense 
agricultural  capacity  would  avail  but  little  without  it. 
She  invites  and  encourages  foreigners  to  settle  and 
labour  in  her  midst. 

8.  Cheap  labour.  Labour  is  cheaper  in  Europe  than 
with  us ;  therefore  Europe  can  manufacture  for  us  at 
cheaper  rates  than  we  can  for  ourselves.  Let  us  see. 
Agricultural  labour  is  also  cheaper  in  Europe  than  in 
this  country.  Shall  we  therefore  depend  on  Europe  for 
our  com  and  potatoes?  The  logic  is  as  pertinent  to  the 
one  case  as  to  the  other.  We  had  better  go  to  sleep,  and 
let  good  old  Europe  take  care  of  us. 

9.  Our  agricultural  productions  can  be  indefinitely  en¬ 
larged.  We  could  grow  grain  enough  to  supply  half  the 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


381 


world.  But  what  inducement  have  we  to  cultivate  the 
soil,  beyond  a  bare  subsistence?  What  is  a  rich  harvest 
good  for,  if  you  can  neither  sell  nor  give  it  away?  Had 
Tennessee  a  market  for  all  she  could  produce,  she  might 
raise  corn  and  swine  enough  for  the  whole  Union,  at  fair 
prices.  This  is  the  very  ground  of  present  complaint — 
namely,  our  useless  superabundance.  Farmers  know  not 
what  to  do  with  their  produce.  The  Anglo-MaltJiusian 
theory  is  nonsense  in  America.  We  can  produce  a  thou¬ 
sandfold  more  than  we  can  consume.  We  could  feed  the 
British  Empire,  if  her  Majesty  or  her  subjects  would  pay 
us  for  the  service.  Well,  then,  if  our  entire  labouring 
force  cannot — will  not — be  expended  upon  the  soil:  why 
not  divert  it  to  some  other  useful  sphere  of  employment? 
Why  not  make  our  own  hats,  shoes,  coats,  axes,  grid¬ 
irons,  fish-hooks  and  Jews-harps?  Why  import  a  needle 
or  a  pinch  of  snuff? 

10.  Better  buy,  where  you  can  buy  cheapest.  This  is 
the  omnipotent  stum] 9,  street,  parlour  and  Congress  argu¬ 
ment.  I  beg  Adam  Smith’s  pardon,  and  Mr.  Calhoun’s 
also.  But  I  must  say,  that  this  apparent  truism  is  not 
true.  I  admit,  that  if  a  man  have  in  his  pocket  a  given 
sum  of  money  wherewith  to  purchase  certain  articles,  it 
is  best  for  him  at  the  time  and  in  reference  to  the  cash 
on  hand,  to  get  the  cheapest  goods  of  equal  quality  that 
the  market  affords.  But,  in  general,  there  is  a  previous 
question,  namely,  how  is  he  to  get  the  money?  Most 
people  in  our  country  are  compelled  to  earn  money  be¬ 
fore  they  can  purchase  anything.  Now  if  it  be  easier  to 
earn  two  dollars  to  give  in  exchange  for  a  pair  of  shoes, 


382 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


made  by  your  neighbour,  who  wants  your  corn;  than  to 
earn  one  dollar  to  pay  a  shoemaker  in  Paris,  who  will 
not  take  your  corn,  and  for  which  there  is  no  market; 
then  is  it  cheaper  to  pay  two  dollars  at  home  than  one 
abroad  or  for  a  foreign  product.  Now  this  is  precisely 
our  case.  We  have  exhausted  all  our  resources  in  the 
purchase  of  foreign  commodities:  and  nobody  will  buy 
the  produce  of  our  farms.  We  must,  therefore,  (a  por¬ 
tion  of  us,)  become  manufacturers,  or  manufacturers  from 
abroad  must  come  and  live  among  us:  and  then  we  can 
mutually  sustain  each  other.* 

11.  Free  trade  is  the  doctrine  of  the  entire  school  of 
modern  Political  Economy.  As  a  theory ,  it  may  be 
sound,  orthodox,  beautiful — perhaps.  But  what  is — 
what  has  ever  been — the  practice  of  the  commercial 
world  ?  Does  England  practise  agreeably  to  the  dicta 
of  her  own  distinguished  professor,  [A.  Smith?]  Con¬ 
ceding  the  principle  of  a  perfectly  free  trade  to  be  just, 
liberal,  politic,  expedient,  beneficial:  ought  it  not  to  be 


*  I  had  occasion,  while  on  my  journey  to  this  city  in  November, 
1824,  to  purchase  at  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  a  pair  of  plain  shoes  for  one 
of  my  little  boys.  The  price  was  two  dollars.  They  had  been  im¬ 
ported  from  the  East— probably  from  New  Jersey.  Corn  was  then 
selling  in  Chillicothe  at  cents  per  bushel.  So  that  a  farmer  had 
to  give  32  bushels  of  corn  for  a  pair  of  shoes,  worth  in  New  Jersey 
about  one  dollar, — and  where  corn  was  selling  at  from  15  to  100  cents 
per  bushel.  Farm  labour  was  as  dear  in  Ohio  as  in  New  Jersey. 
The  cost  of  producing  corn,  about  the  same  in  each.  Had  the  two 
kinds  of  labour  been  brought  into  immediate  proximity  and  competi¬ 
tion,  they  would  have  been  equally  valuable ;  and  both  parties  would 
have  been  equally  benefited  by  a  mutual  exchange  of  their  respective 
commodities. 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  383 

universal  in  its  application?  Ought  not  the  same  equita¬ 
ble  system  to  obtain  among  the  several  nations  which 
traffic  one  with  another?  Can  any  two  nations  trade 
with  each  other  upon  equitable  and  mutually  satisfac¬ 
tory  terms,  where  the  antagonist  principles  of  free  trade 
on  the  one  side,  and  exorbitant  protective  duties  on  the 
other,  are  maintained  by  their  respective  governments? 

In  order  to  insure  the  prosperity  of  any  species  of 
manufacturing  industry,  three  things  are  requisite : 
namely,  1.  Equal  intelligence  and  skill.  2.  Equal  capi¬ 
tal,  or  sufficient  capital.  3.  Equal  protection,  or  equal 
freedom  from  hostile  monopoly  and  legal  favouritism. 
Wherever  superior  intelligence,  superior  capital,  and 
government  exclusive  patronage  prevail,  there  the  manu¬ 
facture  will  flourish  :  and  might  be  made  to  supply,  or 
rather  glut,  every  market  in  the  world  not  equally 
favoured.  Instance  England,  as  she  has  been,  as  she 
is,  and  as  she  is  likely  to  continue.  Look  at  her  gigan¬ 
tic  tariff,  her  corn -laws,  her  colonial  and  navigation 
policy,  her  monopolies  of  all  sorts,  her  prohibition  of 
every  foreign  article  which  can  he  found  or  created 
within  the  territories  of  a  dominion  extending  over 
the  fairest  and  most  productive  regions  of  every  cli¬ 
mate  upon  the  globe.  How  ought  America  to  act  in 
reference  to  England  ?  If  England  will  not  buy  our 
agricultural  products — our  wheat,  lumber,  tobacco,  rice 
— why  should  we  buy  her  manufactured  goods?  What 
is  her  prospective  policy  in  regard  to  cotton  ?  In  ten 
or  twenty  years,  she  can,  if  she  please,  grow  cotton 
enough,  within  the  immense  range  of  her  colonial  pos- 


384 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


sessions,  to  clothe  the  entire  population  of  our  planet 
— and  of  the  moon  to  boot — provided  she  can  get 
there. 

12.  The  advantages  of  domestic  manufactures.  Create 
Birminghams  and  Manchesters  among  ourselves — along 
the  banks  of  our  own  Cumberland  and  Tennessee:  Why 
not?  Why  should  we  not  work  up  or  manufacture  our 
own  raw  materials?  Our  cotton,  flax,  hemp,  wool,  iron, 
leather,  wood,  silk,  tobacco?  Why  send  a  bale  of  cotton 
to  England  to  be  manufactured  and  returned  to  us,  at  an 
enormous  (comparative  or  proportional)  expense,  for  our 
daily  use?  Why  not  send  your  wheat  and  maize  to  Eng¬ 
land  to  be  ground  into  flour  and  meal;  and  then  bring 
them  back  again  for  your  daily  food?  In  the  latter  case, 
we  act  sensibly.  We  choose  to  export  our  grain,  in  a 
manufactured  form,  in  order  to  secure  the  benefit  of  such 
manufacture  to  our  own  citizens.  In  like  manner,  we 
ought  to  manufacture  cotton,  not  only  for  home  consump¬ 
tion,  but  for  the  foreign  market.  And  we  can  do  it,  if 
our  government  will  effectually  protect  us.  Thus,  too, 
we  can  do  with  every  other  raw  material  in  the  country. 
We  can  manufacture  it  for  our  own  use,  and  export  it, 
when  manufactured,  to  other  countries.  This  is  the 
genuine  American  policy;  and  until  we  adopt  and  prac¬ 
tise  it,  we  exclude  ourselves  from  all  the  most  valuable 
privileges  of  independent  nationality.  We  have  already 
rendered  ourselves  more  dependent  on  England  and  more 
serviceable  to  her,  than  we  were  when  colonies.  She 
then  conceded  to  us  the  humble  boon  of  a  British  mar¬ 
ket  for  all  our  native  raw  products;  and  for  these  she 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


385 


kindly  furnished  us  the  goodly  wares  of  her  workshops. 
The  latter  she  is  still  desirous  to  supply.  The  former 
she  indignantly  rejects. 

13.  A  tariff  for  protection  is  not  unconstitutional — as  is 
evident  from  the  proceedings  of  the  Convention  which 
formed  the  constitution ;  and  from  all  our  subsequent 
and  previous  history.  Nothing  is  or  can  be  unconsti¬ 
tution  al,  which  is  manifestly  for  the  welfare  of  the  re¬ 
public.  If  not  so,  then  the  constitution  is  faulty,  and 
ought  to  be  amended;  or  incurably  bad,  and  ought  to 
be  discarded  forthwith.  Cut  the  Gordian  knot ,  when  you 
cannot  untie  it.  The  people  never  intended  to  adopt 
a  constitution  which  should  prevent  their  own  govern¬ 
ment  from  doing  them  good — and  the  largest  amount 
of  good. 

Besides,  if  the  federal  government  cannot  protect  our 
domestic  industry  against  foreign  or  hostile  competition, 
it  follows  that  such  protection  can  be  sought  from  no 
quarter  nor  be  afforded  by  any  existing  power  or  au¬ 
thority  whatever.  The  States  have  not  only  reserved 
no  right  to  regulate  or  meddle  with  our  commercial 
interests  or  foreign  relations,  but  have  positively  relin¬ 
quished  and  surrendered  the  whole  subject  to  the  exclu¬ 
sive  control  of  the  national  government. 

14.  The  United  States  are  one  in  fact;  one  in  policy; 
one  in  interest.  Consider  the  Union,  for  a  moment,  as 
one  State.  Call  it  Carolina.  The  whole  republic  is 
styled,  and  everywhere  known  and  honoured  as  Caro¬ 
lina.  Who  would  think  of  complaining  of  injustice  or 
inequality  or  of  conflicting  interests,  under  the  same 

vol.  hi. — 25 


386 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


simple,  uniform,  municipal  and  commercial  code?  We 
should  then  all  be  good  Carolinians,  whether  in  latitude 
32°  or  45°.  And  we  should  hardly  dream  of  quarrelling 
about  the  terms  of  our  traffic  and  intercourse  with  foreign 
nations.  Why  should  the  States  now  regard  each  other 
as  foreign  or  quasi  foreign  nations?  Or  as  anything  but 
the  component  parts  or  chief  divisions  of  one  great  com¬ 
monwealth  ? 

Suppose  duties  on  certain  imported  goods  encourage  or 
tend  to  encourage  the  growth  of  manufactures  in  Massa¬ 
chusetts:  do  they  (the  duties)  injure  Georgia  or  any  por¬ 
tion  of  the  South  or  Southwest  exclusively  or  chiefly? 
If  burdensome  at  all,  the  burden  falls,  as  before  remarked, 
on  individuals. — Upon  the  citizens  of  Massachusetts,  not 
less  than  upon  the  citizens  of  Georgia  and  Tennessee. 
Hundreds  of  thousands  in  Massachusetts  must  be  con¬ 
sumers,  besides  manufacturers,  as  well  as  in  the  ex¬ 
treme  South — where,  perhaps,  none  manufacture — at 
present. 

But  throughout  the  Union,  there  will  be  equality  of 
rights;  perfect  reciprocity  of  privileges;  free  and  unre¬ 
stricted  traffic ;  so  that  capital,  intelligence  and  enter¬ 
prise  will  be  ever  expansive  and  diffusive.  —  Will  be 
constantly  extending  and  widening  their  sphere  of  oper¬ 
ations. —  Will  gradually  find  their  way  to  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico  and  the  shores  of  the  Pacific.  Manufactures 
will  presently  spring  up  even  in  Carolina,  and  every¬ 
where  throughout  the  land — if  needed,  or  if  profitable 
to  the  adventurer. 

No  monopoly  or  exclusive  privileges  can  be  accorded 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


387 


to  the  North  or  East.  If  manufactures  begin  there,  it  is 
because  that  is  the  most  appropriate  locality  for  such 
enterprises  and  investments  at  the  outset.  But,  in  due 
time,  they  will  naturally  go  elsewhere.  For  every  good 
end,  the  twenty-six  or  thirty  States  and  Territories  may 
be  to  each  other  as  so  many  distinct  nations — carrying 
on  all  sorts  of  productive  industry  unshackled,  and  of 
commerce  upon  the  most  approved  principles  of  free 
trade.  Domestic  or  internal  commerce  and  the  home 
market,  are  always  the  most  profitable.  Our  confed¬ 
eracy,  therefore,  extending  over  so  vast  a  region  of  diver¬ 
sified  soil  and  climate,  may  command  all  the  advantages 
which  usually  accrue  from  both  external  and  domestic 
commerce — even  were  we.  by  war  or  other  causes,  ex¬ 
cluded  from  foreign  ports  altogether. 

15.  How  is  wealth  created,  accumulated,  enlarged,  per¬ 
petuated?  Look  at  Tennessee  now.  What  might  not 
she  become,  if  we  could  insure  within  her  limits  a  certain 
market  for  a  dozen  home  manufactures  of  different  com¬ 
modities?  How  changed  would  soon  be  the  aspect  of  the 
whole  commonwealth!  Could  we  exclude  foreign  com¬ 
petition  for  twenty  years,  we  should  attract  foreign  capi¬ 
tal  and  capitalists,  with  foreign  operatives  and  artisans 
of  all  sorts;  until  we  could  boast  of  our  own  Sheffields 
and  Paisleys  and  Lowrells;  and  thus  become  independent 
of  both  Old  and  New  England. 

Previously  to  the  late  interruptions  and  disasters, 
manufactures  were  in  fact  rapidly  extending  towards 
the  South.  They  had  already  gained  a  foothold  in 
Maryland,  Virginia,  North  Carolina,  Kentucky,  and  per- 


388 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


haps  in  other  States.  And  with  suitable  protection,  they 
will  flourish  wherever  the  people  shall  choose  to  adven¬ 
ture  upon  the  enterprise.  Negroes  may  be  converted 
into  operatives  anywhere.  They  are  probably  better 
adapted  to  the  factory  than  to  the  plantation.  And 
since  negroes  we  must  have  among  us,  whether  bond 
or  free,  the  experiment  is  at  least  worth  making. 

What  will  be  the  effect  of  the  new  tariff  bill  just 
passed  by  Congress,  [September,  1842,]  time  must  dis¬ 
close.  It  no  doubt  will  operate  beneficially,  if  perse- 
veringly  maintained  for  a  sufficient  length  of  time  to 
give  it  a  fair  trial. 

16.  Bounties ,  granted  by  a  State,  to  encourage  home 
production,  are  incomparably  more  burdensome  and  less 
effective  than  a  tariff  of  duties  upon  the  commodities 
of  foreign  competitors;  and  much  more  objectionable 
on  every  account.  As  a  system,  it  is  condemned  by  all 
writers  and  by  all  statesmen.  “A  tariff  may  be  framed 
on  such  narrow  and  exclusive  views  as  to  be  nearly  as 
injurious  to  a  country  [as  bounties,]  but  the  evil  conse¬ 
quences  are  less  palpable ;  and  hence  bounties  have 
ceased  to  be  considered  as  advantageous  to  the  general 
interest,  while  high  or  prohibitory  import  duties  are 
more  or  less  adopted  by  all  commercial  nations.”  *  *  * 


Note. — A  tariff  to  favour  the  products  of  particular  sections  of  the 
country,  is  partial  and  unjust — as  the  duty  of  2|  cents  on  the  pound 
of  sugar,  to  encourage  its  production  in  Louisiana.  Here  the  whole 
population  of  the  Union  are  taxed  to  support  a  limited  number  of 
sugar  planters,  etc.  In  like  manner,  the  duty  on  imported  raw  cotton 
— it  cannot  be  grown  in  Maine,  Vermont,  etc. 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


3S9 


Adam  Smith  remarks,  that:  “By  means  of  bounties  our 
merchants  and  manufacturers,  it  is  pretended,  will  be 
enabled  to  sell  their  goods  as  cheap  or  cheaper  than 
their  rivals  in  the  foreign  markets.  *  *  *  We  cannot 
[he  adds]  force  foreigners  to  buy  their  goods,  as  vre  have 
done  our  own  countrymen.  The  next  best  expedient,  it 
has  been  thought,  therefore,  is  to  pay  them  for  buying.” 
( Penny  Cyclopaedia.) 

“Bounties  are  a  more  expensive  mode  of  encourage¬ 
ment  than  duties  and  prohibitions,  as  the  money  must 
be  first  collected  by  a  tax,  and  then  distributed  in  boun¬ 
ties^ — a  process  in  which  a  loss  of  from  two  to  twenty  per 
cent,  is  sustained — that  is,  a  bounty  of  100  dollars  costs 
the  nation  from  102  to  120  dollars,  according  as  the  col¬ 
lection  and  distribution  of  the  revenue  is  more  or  less 
expensive.”  ( Ibid .,  Art.  Bounty.) 

Bounties  in  England  have  been  discontinued.  In  this 
country  they  seem  to  find  favour  just  in  proportion  to 
our  dislike  of  a  tariff.  In  Maine  and  Massachusetts 
large  bounties  have  been  paid  to  the  growers  of  wheat. 
In  several  States  bounties  are  paid  to  encourage  the  pro¬ 
duction  and  manufacture  of  silk.  This  is  done  by  Ten¬ 
nessee.  Who  pay  these  bounties?  The  people— all  the 
people — the  farmers  especially.  Here  we  tax  the  grower 
of  corn,  tobacco  and  cotton,  for  the  sole  and  exclusive 
benefit  of  the  silk  grower.  Whereas,  a  duty  imposed  on 
foreign  silk  imported,  would  afford  real  protection,  and 
be  paid  only  by  the  consumer  or  wearer  of  the  silk  goods. 
If  the  blacksmith  were  taxed  directly  and  avowedly  to 
pay  the  carpenter,  I  suppose  the  injustice  would  be  ob- 


390 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


vious  to  everybody.  The  same  injustice  is  done  to  the 
corn-grower,  when  you  tax  him,  as  you  now  do,  to  put 
money  into  the  pockets  of  the  silk  producer.  Here  you 
tax  the  necessaries  of  life  to  pay  for  the  creation  of  luxu¬ 
ries. ,  There  would  have  been  more  wisdom  in  awarding 
a  bounty  to  the  growers  of  flax,  wool,  hemp,  cotton;  and 
especially  to  the  manufacturers  of  these  or  other  indis¬ 
pensable  articles  of  existence.  Or  in  giving  premiums 
for  the  largest  crops — for  the  better  qualities — for  im¬ 
proved  modes  of  cultivation — for  extraordinary  inven¬ 
tions  or  discoveries  in  the  useful  arts — for  improvements 
in  machinery,  farming  utensils,  etc. 

Bounties  will  never  establish  or  render  permanent 
the  “silk  business”  in  Tennessee.  This  object  cannot 
be  effected,  except  by  the  concurrent  action  of  all  the 
States  in  excluding  foreign  silks.  For  if  the  latter  are 
admitted  into  Kentucky,  for  instance;  how  shall  we  pre¬ 
vent  their  ingress  into  Tennessee  ?  In  order  then  to 
perpetuate  the  culture  of  silk  in  Tennessee,  it  would  be 
necessary  to  perpetuate  the  bounty.  That  is,  continue 
to  tax  one  portion,  or  rather  the  whole,  of  the  people,  to 
enable  a  few  fashionable  ladies  and  gentlemen  to  show 
off  in  silk  finery;  and  to  look  down  with  contempt  upon 
the  industrious  wearer  of  domestic  cottons  and  woollens. 
Now  the  only  fair,  impartial  and  effectual  method  of 
giving  permanent  prosperity  to  the  grower  and  manu¬ 
facturer  of  silk,  is  the  prohibition  of  foreign  silk  goods 
by  the  federal  government, — either  through  the  agency 
of  a  high  tariff,  or  by  a  more  summary  process.  This, 
once  accomplished — and  the  City  of  Lyons  would  cross 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


391 


the  Atlantic,  and  be  at  home  in  the  “  Great  Valley,”  in 
less  than  five  years. 

The  interest  of  both  farmers  and  mechanics  will  be 
far  more  effectively  promoted  by  duties  on  imports  than 
by  any  bounties  upon  the  home  product.  In  this  way, 
our  cotton  and  sugar  have  long  been  protected.  Whe¬ 
ther  the  new  tariff  bill  (passed  September,  1842,)  will 
adequately  defend  and  sustain  the  growth  and  manufac¬ 
ture  of  silk,  time  must  determine.  In  any  event,  the 
State  Bounty  Act  ought  to  be  repealed,  or  be  allowed  to 
expire  by  its  own  limitations. 

17.  Taxation  may  be  necessary,  proper,  beneficial  — 
and  yet  may  be  so  unwisely  levied  and  collected,  as  to 
occasion  more  harm  than  good.  The  system  is  evil,  when 
it  tempts  or  prompts  to  concealment,  fraud,  falsehood, 
intemperance,  idleness,  ignorance,  profligacy,  wasteful¬ 
ness,  crime.  Thus  England,  until  lately,  taxed  knowl¬ 
edge  100  per  cent.,  and  suffered  gin  to  go  free. 

The  history  of  the  license  system  is  curious  and  in¬ 
structive.  We  find  traces  of  it  for  some  two  hundred 
years  back.  In  reference  to  the  sale  of  intoxicating 
liquors,  the  aim,  was  doubtless  to  check  or  prevent  their 
excessive  use,  as  well  as  to  obtain  revenue.  The  result 
has  been,  a  great  increase  of  intemperance.  And  so  also, 
in  the  case  of  licensed  gaming  establishments.  Persons 
duly  authorized  by  law  to  keep  drinking  and  gambling 
houses,  are  regarded  as  privileged  parties,  who  deserve 
the  patronage  and  encouragement  of  the  public.  And 
they  seldom  fail  to  exert  the  kind  of  influence  which  is 
most  favourable  to  their  interests. 


392 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


A  land-tax  is  always  objectionable,  when  its  amount 
depends  on,  or  is  apportioned  according  to,  the  increased 
value  created  by  human  industry,  enterprise,  and  the 
outlay  of  capital  for  its  improvement.  If  taxed  at  all, 
it  should  be  at  a  fixed  invariable  rate,  from  a  valuation 
of  the  land  in  its  virgin  or  unimproved  condition — so 
that  the  proprietor  might  enjoy  all  the  fruits  of  his 
labours  and  expenditures,  without  fear  of  additional 
taxes  for  his  pains.  Upon  this  plan,  he  would  be 
stimulated  and  urged  by  the  strongest  motives,  to  aug¬ 
ment  the  value  of  his  estate  as  rapidly  as  possible.  In 
this  respect,  the  land-tax  of  Tennessee  is  injudicious — 
if  not  the  worst  that  could  be  devised.  Under  the  old 
constitution  the  system  was  excellent.  It  was  a  determ¬ 
inate  sum  upon  each  100  acres — irrespective  of  quality 
or  value.  Of  course,  all  prices  and  sales  of  land  were 
adjusted  in  accordance  with  this  well  known  and  estab¬ 
lished  law  or  custom.  Poor  land  would  sell  for  less,  rich 
land  for  more,  proportionally,  in  consequence  of  both 
being  subjected  to  the  same  annual  tax  or  charge.  At 
present,  under  our  new  constitution,  every  dollar’s  value 
added  to  the  soil,  from  year  to  year,  by  the  sweat  of  the 
farmer’s  brow,  must  be  taxed!  Unless  a  very  accommo¬ 
dating  conscience  should  dispose  him  to  conceal  or  deny 
the  truth.  Thus  you  tax  industry,  and  tempt  to  fraud, 
at  the  same  time. 

In  England,  the  usage  is  different.  “In  the  jmar  1692, 
a  general  valuation  was  made  of  the  income  of  all  the 
land  in  the  country;  and,  upon  that  valuation,  the  land- 
tax  continues  to  be  levied  to  this  day;  so  that  the  tax 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


393 


of  four  shillings  in  the  pound,  upon  the  rents  of  land,  is 
a  fifth  of  its  rent,  in  1692,  and  not  of  the  actual  rent  at 
the  present  day.”  (Say,  Polit.  Peon .,  vol.  ii.  p.  228.) 

This  is  probably  the  true  cause  of  the  agricultural 
prosperity  of  England :  and  not  her  oppressive  corn-laws , 
as  many  seem  to  imagine.* 

*  I  omit  the  topics,  Internal  Improvements ,  Education ,  etc. — 
What  a  government  can  and  ought  to  do  in  regard  to  roads,  canals, 
and  all  other  means  of  transportation  and  travelling — what  for  the 
diffusion  of  knowledge  and  universal  education,  etc.,  I  have  not  space 
to  inquire.  Besides,  I  have  elsewhere  and  on  other  occasions  discussed 
these  themes  pretty  thoroughly. 


AMERICAN  DEMOCRACY. 


PART  FIFTH. 

The  third  head  of  discourse  or  principal  division  of 
our  subject  remains  to  be  treated  of  or  discussed,  viz. : — 

What  can  the  people  do  for  themselves,  independently 
of  the  government?* 

1.  They  should  endeavour,  by  all  means,  to  acquire  a 
perfect  mastery  of  their  own  proper  business.  Mery  few 
farmers  or  mechanics  do  themselves  justice  in  this  re¬ 
spect.  They  ought  to  aim  at  and  strive  for  the  highest 
eminence  in  agriculture  and  the  mechanic  arts.  They 
should  do  their  work  well— try  to  do  it  better — be  will¬ 
ing  to  learn — make  experiments  with  a  view  to  improved 
machinery  and  modes  of  operation,  etc. 

2.  Persevering  industry  and  rigid  economy  indispensa¬ 
ble  from  the  outset.- — As  also,  sobriety,  honesty,  order, 
regularity,  punctuality,  system. 

3.  Independence  of  mind  or  spirit.  Self-reliance.  Dis¬ 
regard  of  popular  prejudices  about  negro  labour.  False 
pride  on  this  subject.  Slavery ,  a  prolific  source  of  idle¬ 
ness,  extravagance  and  profligacy.  Men  who  cannot 
afford  to  keep  slaves,  must  work  themselves  or  be  worse 

*  Upon  this  branch  of  the  subject — the  most  important  perhaps  of 
the  three — I  shall  here  record  only  a  few  general  hints  for  extempo¬ 
raneous  enlargement,  as  occasion  may  serve  or  require. 

(394) 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


395 


off  than  slaves.  They  can  never  rise  above  their  present 
humble  position  otherwise.  They  will  remain  poor,  de¬ 
graded,  despised — if  too  proud  to  labour.  Work  as  free¬ 
men  in  order  to  be  free.  Negroes,  a  great  hindrance  to 
white  labour. 

4.  Knowledge  to  be  sought  and  acquired  in  all  prac¬ 
ticable  ways — and  from  every  available  source.  Educate 
yourselves.  Show  how  this  may  be  done. 

5.  Morality — Religion. — Demonstrate  their  importance 
even  to  worldly  thrift  and  prosperity. 

6.  Refinement  of  manners.  Labourers  need  not  be 
rude,  vulgar,  rough,  boorish,  repulsive,  coarse,  rustic  or 
uncivil.  A  gracious  demeanour — a  courteous  address — 
a  quiet,  self-possessed,  gentle,  urbane  habit  of  buying  and 
selling — to  be  studiously  cultivated.  Illustrate  the  value 
of  such  accomplishments  to  the  parties  addressed. 

7.  Popular  education — as  a  common  cause,  and  with 
reference  to  the  general  welfare  of  the  people.  Show 
how  the  entire  mass  of  the  labouring  people  may  be 
benefited  and  elevated  by  a  higher  standard  and  system 
of  education. 

8.  Individuals  distinguished  by  genius  and  learning 
among  farmers  and  mechanics,  do  not  elevate  or  dignify 
the  class  or  body  to  which  they  at  first  belong.  They 
rise  above  it — leave  it — and  appear  as  stars  in  a  different 
sphere.  They  become  physicians,  lawyers,  preachers, 
statesmen,  politicians,  inventors,  authors,  journalists. 
They  cease  to  be  artisans  and  labourers.  They  do  not 
therefore  illustrate  their  primitive  humble  rank  or  call¬ 
ing.  The  mechanical  trades  or  crafts  continue  as  before. 


396 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


The  shepherd,  the  tinker,  the  journeyman  printer,  the 
shoemaker,  the  carpenter,  the  lastmaker,*  the  blacksmith, 
the  clockmaker,  the  barber — have  gained  nothing  in 
public  estimation  or  social  privilege,  by  the  intellectual 
superiority  and  miraculous  achievements  of  a  Shak- 
speare  or  Ferguson,  a  Bunyan,  a  Franklin,  a  Sherman 
or  Bloomfield  or  Carey,  a  Lea,  a  Morrison,  a  Burritt  or 
Baer,  a  Rittenhouse,  an  Arkwright,  a  Burns,  a  Fulton. 


*  Dr.  Morrison  was  a  last  and  boot-tree  maker. 


THOUGHTS  ON  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH  GOVERNMENT, 
OR  ECCLESIASTICAL  POLITY. 


[NEW  ALBANY,  INDIANA,  1851.] 


■ 


p 


\ 


THOUGHTS  ON  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH  GOVERNMENT 

OR  ECCLESIASTICAL  POLITY* 


HEADS,  TOPICS,  HINTS,  FACTS  — FOR  DISCUSSION,  ILLUSTRATION,  ETC.  — BEING  THE 
OUTLINE  OF  AN  INAUGURAL  DISCOURSE,  AS  PROFESSOR  IN  THE  THEOLOGICAL 
SEMINARY  OF  NEW  ALBANY,  1851. 


It  is  proposed,  in  the  present  discourse,  to  attempt 
little  more  than  a  simple  exhibition  of  the  principal 
heads  or  topics  which  the  subject  naturally  suggests  as 
worthy  of  notice ;  and  which,  under  other  circumstances, 
and  especially  in  the  theological  class-room,  would  de¬ 
mand  a  more  ample  discussion  or  illustration.  I  shall 
not  follow  any  very  strictly  historical  or  logical  order  in 
the  arrangement  of  either  the  facts  or  arguments  which 
I  am  about  to  submit  to  your  consideration.  They  may, 
however,  be  comprehended  under  two  general  captions 
or  divisions,  viz. : — 


*  It  is  due  to  the  author  to  state,  that  the  manuscript  from  which 
these  fragmentary  thoughts  are  taken  was  evidently  not  prepared  by 
him  for  publication.  A  part  of  the  matter  was  delivered  by  him  before 
the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  New  Albany  Theological  Seminary,  in 
1851,  when  he  was  inaugurated  as  Professor  of  Biblical  Archaeology 
and  Church  Government  in  that  institution.  As  stated  by  him  at  the 
time,  it  was  intended  as  a  synopsis  or  compendium  of  his  course  of 
instruction.  It  was  never  fully  written  out,  and  only  a  part  of  it  is 
here  published  :  and  that  mainly  to  show  the  outline  of  his  instructions 
as  a  Teacher  of  Theology.  The  several  heads  of  discourse,  in  all 
probability,  became  the  themes  of  his  extemporaneous  and  conversa¬ 
tional  lectures  to  his  pupils. — Editor. 


(399) 


400 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


I.  The  elementary  principles  and  distinctive  features 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  Polity. 

II.  Its  peculiar  advantages  and  practical  results. 

With  these  two  objects  mainly  in  view,  I  shall  dispose 

of  my  miscellaneous  materials  in  numerical  order,  just 
as  they  occur  to  mind,  without  reference  to  their  direct 
bearing  upon  either  of  the  above  purposes  or  proposi¬ 
tions. 

1.  Government  is  a  divine  institution.  This  proposi¬ 
tion  will  not  be  questioned  by  any  who  derive  their  opin¬ 
ions  from  the  Bible;  nor,  indeed,  by  any  who  soberly 
reflect  on  the  character,  condition  and  necessities  of  social 
man.  No  community,  large  or  small,  from  the  family  to 
the  empire,  could  exist  without  it.  No  association,  liter¬ 
ary,  philosophical,  religious  or  benevolent,  secret  or  pub¬ 
lic,  voluntary  or  involuntary,  for  good  or  for  evil,  can  be 
sustained  without  government — or  without  laws,  rules, 
sanctions  and  penalties. 

2.  The  Bible  is  replete  with  examples  and  lessons  on 
the  subject  of  government — family  or  domestic,  civil  or 
political,  religious  or  ecclesiastical. 

3.  While  it  is  not  pretended  that  the  Bible  furnishes 
exact  models  for  either  civil  or  church  polity — adapted 
to  all  ages  and  countries — yet  much  that  is  valuable  and 
pertinent  to  both  may  thence  be  learned :  and  not  a  few 
radical  and  essential  principles  are  clearly  inculcated  as 
of  universal  and  perpetual  obligation.  Such,  for  instance, 
is  the  decalogue. 

4.  In  reference  to  the  Church,  we  must  bear  in  mind 
the  wide  difference  between  the  Mosaic  and  Christian 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  401 

dispensations.  The  first  was  limited,  local,  secular,  tem¬ 
porary,  ceremonial,  typical,  carnal,  worldly  and  national 
— at  least,  in  many  or  most  respects.  The  latter  is — 
and  was  designed  to  be — catholic,  spiritual,  unworldly 
and  perpetual;  a  religion  of  peace  on  earth  and  good  will 
toward  men;  of  hope,  joy,  charity  and  holiness;  of  ever¬ 
lasting  life  and  felicity  through  faith  in  the  atoning  sacri¬ 
fice  of  the  eternal  Son  of  God,  to  all  generations,  without 
respect  to  persons,  and  without  distinction  of  nations  or 
families. 

The  worship  and  ritual  service  of  the  tabernacle,  and 
more  especially  of  the  temple,  were  imposing,  costly, 
burdensome,  magnificent,  and  altogether  without  a  rival 
in  external  splendour,  pomp  and  grandeur.  Whatever 
appertained  to  the  system  or  to  the  priesthood,  was  also 
most  minutely  and  accurately  prescribed.  So  particular 
and  so  precise,  indeed,  were  the  directions  and  descrip¬ 
tions  recorded  in  the  Jewish  law-book,  that  no  room  w^as 
left  for  doubt,  or  for  diversity  of  opinion,  in  regard  either 
to  the  substance  or  form  of  any  commanded  observance. 
Thus,  the  manner  in  which  circumcision  was  to  be  per¬ 
formed  and  the  passover  to  be  celebrated,  was  so  clearly 
indicated  and  so  well  understood,  that  no  dispute  or  con¬ 
troversy  ever  arose  upon  the  subject.  Now,  in  all  these 
respects,  the  Christian  economy  presents  a  direct  contrast 
to  the  Jewish.  Christ’s  kingdom  is  not  of  this  world: 
and  he  demands  the  homage  of  the  heart.  The  temple, 
the  sacrifice,  the  Levitical  priesthood,  had  accomplished 
the  purposes  of  their  institution ;  and  were  superseded 


vol.  hi. — 26 


402 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


by  a  service  which  every  sincere  disciple  or  believer 
could  render  at  any  time,  in  any  place,  under  any  cir¬ 
cumstances,  and  without  regard  to  external  or  conven¬ 
tional  formalities.  Under  the  Gospel,  no  importance  is 
attached  to  forms  or  modes.  There  are  no  rites  or  cere¬ 
monies — at  least,  in  the  Jewish  meaning  of  the  terms. 
Or  if  Baptism  and  the  Eucharist  be  exceptions,  they 
are  very  different  in  character,  object  and  signification. 
There  is  no  particularity  or  specification  of  details.  No 
minute  directions  are  given  about  form,  manner,  time 
and  other  incidents.  Of  course,  much  is  left  to  human 
discretion — with  a  wide  scope  or  margin  for  differences 
in  mere  non-essential  modes;  and  for  the  exercise  of 
charity  and  mutual  forbearance  among  Christian  sects 
and  parties. 

5.  The  Bible  is  our  only  authoritative  guide  and  stand¬ 
ard  in  the  government  and  discipline  of  the  Church,  as 
well  as  in  doctrine  and  conduct. 

6.  In  the  absence  or  want  of  explicit  scriptural  direc¬ 
tions,  we  must  be  guided  by  the  spirit  and  manifest  scope 
of  the  Gospel.  That  system  of  ecclesiastical  polity  is 
best,  which  most  surely  promotes,  cherishes,  and  accords 
with,  the  principles  of  the  Gospel: — which  most  effectu¬ 
ally  maintains  purity  of  doctrine  and  holiness  of  life 
among  the  people. 

7.  According  to  the  “judicious”  Hooker:  “The  neces¬ 
sity  of  polity  and  regimen  in  all  churches  may  be  be¬ 
lieved,  without  holding  any  one  certain  form  to  be 
necessary  in  them  all.  And  the  general  principles  are 
such,  as  do  not  particularly  describe  any  one;  but  sun- 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


403 


dry  forms  of  discipline  may  be  equally  consistent  with 
the  general  axioms  of  Scripture.” 

The  practical  applications  of  this  apparently  liberal 
announcement,  by  the  celebrated  author  of  the  “Ecclesi¬ 
astical  Polity,”  will  be  noticed  hereafter. 

8.  Diversity  in  the  forms  of  church  government,  as 
well  as  in  doctrine  and  ceremonial,  has  prevailed  almost 
from  the  apostolic  age.  These,  under  various  modifica¬ 
tions,  may  be  denominated  or  classified,  as  Popish  or 
Roman  Catholic,  Prelatical  or  Episcopal,  Independent  or 
Congregational,  Presbyterian,  and  Erastian. 

There  are  three  strongly-marked  and  distinct  systems, 
which  embrace  the  elementary  grounds  of  difference  and 
controversy  among  Protestants,  namely:  The  Independ¬ 
ent,  the  Episcopal  and  the  Presbyterian.  These  appeal 
mainly  to  Scripture  for  their  respective  peculiarities. 

All  non-Episcopal  churches,  as  Lutherans,  Methodists, 
Baptists,  Congregationalists,  etc.,  may  be  regarded  as 
Presbyterian,  so  far  as  the  question  of  mere  parity 
among  the  preaching  clergy  is  concerned.  The  Friends 
or  Quakers  claim  to  be  without  government,  discipline, 
creed  or  ministry: — though,  in  fact,  they  have  them  all. 

9.  In  order  to  arrive  at  a  just  and  impartial  estimate 
of  the  scriptural  basis  of  church  government,  let  each 
one  for  himself  group  together,  at  his  leisure,  the  various 
passages  and  facts  of  the  New  Testament  relating  to  the 
subject;  and  endeavour  to  ascertain  their  precise  legiti¬ 
mate  import  in  connexion  with  the  context  and  with 
each  other.  Let  this  be  done  without  prepossession  or 
prejudice.  Let  us  also,  with  equal  candour,  consider  the 


404  MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 

structure  and  organization  of  the  churches  actually  estab¬ 
lished  by  the  apostles:  as  those  of  Jerusalem,  Antioch, 
Corinth,  Ephesus, — and  others. 

10.  In  what  respects,  and  for  what  purposes,  they,  or 
any  of  them,  may  be  consulted  and  relied  on  as  authority. 
As  regards  the  testimony  of  the  Fathers,  we  should  in¬ 
quire,  What  do  they  teach  or  testify? 

11.  Candid  inquirers  generally  admit,  that  the  details 
of  church  government  are  not  explicitly  stated  either  in 
the  New  Testament  or  in  the  works  of  the  early  Chris¬ 
tian  writers.  They  profess  to  find  there  only  funda¬ 
mental  principles;  which,  if  combined  into  a  system,  will 
naturally  lead  to  these  details.  These  elementary  prin¬ 
ciples,  according  to  the  judgment  of  non-Episcopal  Pro¬ 
testants,  are  Union,  Parity,  Representation.  These 
stand  out,  with  great  prominence,  they  think,  both  in 
the  divine  record,  and  in  the  writings  of  the  primitive 
Fathers:  and  no  system  of  ecclesiastical  polity  can  be 
scriptural  or  defensible,  from  which  either  of  them  is 
excluded.* 

12.  No  a  priori  or  presumptive  argument  in  favour 
of  any  existing  form  of  church  government,  as  being 
especially  or  pre-eminently  adapted  to  the  exclusion  of 
error  and  heresy;  or  to  the  preservation  of  orthodoxy, 
peace,  order  and  unity;  or  to  the  prevention  of  schism, 
sectarism,  dissent,  controversy  or  non-conformity;  is  per 
tinent,  reliable  or  conclusive. 

The  primitive  apostolic  church  did  not  accomplish  any 
of  these  objects.  Bad  men  were  admitted  to  its  commun- 


*  See  Biblical  Repertory,  vol.  xvi.  p.  20,  etc. 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


405 


ion  and  membership — as  Judas,  Ananias  and  Sapphira, 
Simon  Magus,  Demas,  Hiotrephes,  Hymenaeus,  Alexan¬ 
der,  etc. 

The  tares  and  wheat  were  suffered  to  grow  up  together. 
Heresies  and  irregularities  of  various  kinds  are  specified. 
Antichrist,  even,  had  begun  to  appear. 

Has  any  ancient  or  modern  national  established  church 
succeeded  any  better?  Roman,  Greek,  English,  French, 
Hutch,  Swiss,  Scotch,  Genevese  ?  How  has  it  fared 
with  voluntary,  free,  unprotected,  and  even  persecuted, 
churches?  The  past  history  and  the  present  condition 
of  the  numerous  ecclesiastical  organizations,  both  in  the 
Old  World  and  in  the  New,  will  furnish  abundant,  if 
not  very  satisfactory,  answers  to  all  inquiries  of  this 
kind. 

While  we  object  to  this  species  of  argument,  as  usually 
paraded  by  almost  every  denomination  in  its  own  behoof, 
we  nevertheless  do  hold  and  affirm  that  the  genuine, 
scriptural,  apostolic  system  of  polity  and  discipline,  is 
not  only  the  sole  legitimate  authoritative  system,  but 
also  the  most  efficient  guardian  of  truth  and  holiness  in 
the  Christian  Church.  If  it  cannot  prevent  the  occur¬ 
rence  or  intrusion  of  heresy  and  hypocrisy,  its  seasonable 
and  judicious  discipline  will,  sooner  or  later,  purify  the 
Church,  by  cutting  off,  or  excluding  from  its  communion, 
all  contumacious  incorrigible  offenders, — to  the  extent, 
at  least,  contemplated  by  the  divine  Head  of  the  Church. 

13.  Again  :  the  argument  in  behalf  of  any  church 
constitution,  founded  on,  or  derived  from,  its  assumed 
or  supposed  resemblance  or  analogy  to  any  particular 


406 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


form  of  civil  government,  however  specious  and  popular, 
is  purely  ad  invidiam ,  or  ad  ignorantiam ,  or  ad  cagrtan- 
dum.  It  is  calculated  to  mislead,  deceive  and  mystify. 
Thus,  nearly  all  the  sects  in  our  country  maintain,  that 
their  own  respective  forms  or  systems  are  the  most  strictly 
republican,  or  most  congenial  to  republican  or  democratic 
institutions.  The  Eoman  Catholic,  the  Episcopalian,  the 
Independent,  the  Methodist,  the  Baptist,  are  equally  posi¬ 
tive  and  dogmatic  on  this  subject,  and  in  this  behalf. 
Presbyterians  also  are  prone  to  glorify  their  own  time- 
honoured  polity  on  the  same  score  and  in  similar  fashion; 
— whether  with  or  without  good  reason,  we  leave  others 
to  decide. 

It  is  enough  for  us  to  stand  on  scriptural  ground.  We 
are  able  to  demonstrate,  against  all  political  cavillers  and 
gainsayers,  that  the  genius  of  Presbyterianism  is  admira¬ 
bly  suited  to  the  genius  of  the  purest  Bepublicanism : 
while  history  also  teaches  that  Presbyterianism  may  be, 
as  it  has  been,  loyal  to  any  and  every  form  of  civil  gov¬ 
ernment.  Witness  Germany,  France,  Holland,  Geneva, 
Scotland,  Ireland,  America — to  say  nothing  of  its  infancy 
under  imperial  Boman  despotism. 

Who  ever  heard  of  Presbyterians  rebelling  against  a 
government,  because  it  was  monarchical,  for  instance? 
Even  the  American  Bevolution  was  not  a  war  against 
monarchy  at  the  outset.  It  did  not  originate  in  any 
determined  hostility  to  monarchy  as  such.  Our  patriotic 
sires  were  conservative  in  their  principles  and  intentions. 
They  appealed  to  arms,  not  to  destroy  and  overturn,  but 
to  assert,  maintain  and  preserve  their  inherited,  char- 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


407 


tered,  constitutional,  indefeasible  rights,  as  free-born  Eng¬ 
lishmen.  In  such  a  crisis,  and  for  such  a  cause,  assuredly 
our  Presbyterian  ancestors  were  not  behind  the  boldest 
and  bravest,  either  in  the  council  hall  or  on  the  battle¬ 
field. 

“No  bishop,  no  king,”  was  the  oracular  and  wily  utter¬ 
ance  of  the  British  Solomon,  (James  I.,)  and  ought  never 
to  have  obtained  currency  as  an  axiom  or  political  apho¬ 
rism.  Ilis  own  Scottish  countrymen  and  subjects  pro¬ 
claimed  its  falsity  then  by  their  conduct,  as  they  have 
done  ever  since.  They  never  opposed  their  king,  as  the 
rightful  sovereign  of  the  realm,  but  because  he  endeav¬ 
oured  to  usurp  the  headship  or  kingship  of  the  Church 
also.  James  soon  discovered  that  neither  force  nor  cun¬ 
ning  would  avail,  so  long  as  the  sturdy  Scots  continued 
familiar  with  kirk  sessions,  presbyteries,  synods  and  gen¬ 
eral  assemblies :  and  amenable,  in  spiritual  matters,  to  no 
human  tribunal  or  authority.  He  wished  to  be  Pope  in 
Scotland,  as  well  as  in  England.  And  had  his  motto 
been,  “no  bishop,  no  Pope,”  it  would  have  exhibited 
more  truth  and  candour,  though  less  of  the  politic  du¬ 
plicity  and  kingcraft  for  which  he  wTas  distinguished,  and 
of  which  he  was  somewhat  boastful 

No  subjects  of  the  British  crown  have  hitherto  been, 
or  are  now,  more  faithful  and  devoted  to  their  constitu¬ 
tional  civil  government,  than  the  Scottish  Presbyterians. 
Illegal,  violent,  arbitrary,  vexatious,  persecuting  tyranny, 
they  have  manfully  and  successfully  resisted.  But  to 
a  constitutional  monarchy,  equitably  administered,  they 
manifest  not  only  no  aversion,  but  the  strongest  attach- 


408 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


ment.  Where  were  their  sympathies,  and  how  did  they 
act,  during  the  American  and  French  Kevolutions? 

The  entire  history  of  the  Scottish  Presbyterian  Church, 
during  the  reign  of  the  despotic  and  unprincipled  Stuarts, 
is  singularly  eventful,  suggestive,  edifying,  pathetic:  — 
and  is  worthy  of  profound  study.  Can  the  world  present 
a  parallel  case?  or  an  example  of  equal  suffering,  priva¬ 
tion,  sacrifice,  endurance  ?  of  indomitable  adherence  to 
the  simple  faith  and  worship  of  the  gospel?  and  of  that 
primitive  martyr  spirit  which  no  terrors  nor  tortures 
could  crush  or  extinguish? 

We  might  also,  in  this  connexion,  cite  the  tragic  story 
of  the  Presbyterian  Huguenots  in  France.  They,  too, 
were  loyal,  high-minded,  honourable,  true-hearted  sub¬ 
jects  of  an  almost  unlimited  monarchy.  They  pleaded 
and  contended  only  for  the  inalienable  rights  of  con¬ 
science. 

In  aristocratic  Geneva  and  Holland,  Presbyterianism 
has  hitherto  been  the  creature  of  the  State.  Thus,  too,  has 
it  been,  to  large  extent,  in  Scotland,  since  the  accession  of 
William  and  Mary  to  the  British  throne,  and  more  espe¬ 
cially  since  the  restoration  of  church  patronage  [in  1712] 
under  Queen  Anne.  It  is  due  to  the  Established  Church 
of  Scotland  to  add,  that  she  has  uniformlv  resisted  and 
protested  against  all  ambitious  and  Erastian  encroach¬ 
ments  of  the  civil  power.  While  the  seceding,  voluntary 
and  free  churches  act  without  dictation  or  restraint  from 
any  external  or  secular  source  whatever. 

Here  mark  the  difference  between  real  unfettered  Pres¬ 
byterianism,  and  the  same  system  mixed  up  with,  or  sup- 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  409 

ported  by,  the  civil  government.  The  latter  never  pro¬ 
tects,  but  to  control;  never  touches,  but  to  soil;  never 
gives,  but  to  receive  ten,  thirty  or  a  hundredfold  in 
return. 

14.  Church  officers,  at  the  beginning,  were  designated 
as:  Apostles,  Prophets,  Evangelists,  Presbyters  or  Elders, 
Bishops,  Pastors,  Teachers,  Ministers,  Helps,  Govern¬ 
ments. 

The  peculiar  official  attributes  and  functions  of  the 
apostles  entitled  them  to  the  pre-eminence  :  and  this 
pre-eminence  appears  not  to  have  been  denied  or  ques¬ 
tioned  by  their  contemporaries.  They  had  no  equals  or 
successors,  in  several  most  important  respects.  While,  as 
ministers  and  preachers  of  the  gospel,  all  faithful  preach¬ 
ers  and  ministers,  of  every  age  and  country,  have  been  or 
are  their  legitimate  and  only  successors.  The  apostieship 
was  a  temporary  office.  There  were  only  thirteen  apos¬ 
tles — including  Paul.  Barnabas,  Timothy,  Titus,  Epaph- 
roditus,  Silas,  Junias,  Andronicus,  etc.  were  not  apostles. 

Except  as  teachers,  the  Prophets  had  no  successors. 

Evangelists  appear  at  first  to  have  possessed  and  exer¬ 
cised  extraordinary  powers.  They  were,  however,  labo¬ 
rious  travelling  missionaries:  and,  in  this  capacity,  they 
are  as  much  needed  as  ever.  Timothy  and  Titus  were 
evangelists. 

The  Angels  of  the  seven  churches  in  Asia  were  prob¬ 
ably  simple  pastors,  —  or  chief  presbyters  among  their 
brethren  in  the  churches  specified. 

Presbyters  and  Bishops  were  identical  in  meaning : 
convertible  or  interchangeable:  mere  pastors  of  congre- 


410 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


gations  or  of  churches  or  parishes :  parochial,  not  dioce¬ 
san,  bishops.  There  were  hundreds  of  such  bishops  in 
Asia  Minor,  Italy,  Greece,  Northern  Africa,  etc.,  where 
one  modern  prelate  would  amply  suffice. 

15.  We  may  next  notice  Apostolic  succession  in  the 
prelatic  sense:  High  Church  claims:  Episcopal  ordina¬ 
tion:  Laud’s  tyranny  and  innovations  in  England  and 
Scotland :  Modern  Puseyism :  the  nature,  grounds  and 
dogmas  of  jure  divino  prelatists  or  churchmen. 

Prelatists  maintain:  1.  That  there  was  instituted  by 
Christ  an  order  of  clergy  superior  to  presbyters,  called, 
first,  apostles,  then  bishops,  to  whom  alone  was  commit¬ 
ted  the  power  to  ordain  others,  and  to  govern  the  church. 
2.  That  there  has  existed  a  lineal,  unbroken  succession, 
from  the  apostles  down  to  the  present  bishops  of  Epis¬ 
copal  churches.* 

“  There  is  not  a  bishop,  priest  or  deacon,  among  us, 
who  cannot,  if  he  please,  trace  his  own  spiritual  descent 
from  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul.”f 

On  the  contrary,  Archbishop  Whately,  in  his  “ King¬ 
dom  of  Christ,”  (p.  182,)  asserts  that:  “ There  is  not  a 
minister  in  all  Christendom  who  is  able  to  trace  up  with 
any  approach  to  certainty,  his  own  spiritual  pedigree,” 
( i.e .  to  any  of  the  apostles.) 

*  *  *  *  “The  High  Church  generally  have  an  ugly 
trick  of  unchurching  other  people,  and  consigning  them 
to  what,  in  their  slang,  they  call  uncovenanted  mercy. 
We  have  heard  the  question  asked,  how  such  pretensions 

*  See  Presb.  Tracts,  vol.  iv.  p.  302. 
f  So  says  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hook.  See  Shwieall,  p.  248. 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  411 


should  be  treated?  and  we  answer,  just  as  Europeans  and 
Americans  treat  the  claims  of  the  Chinese  to  be  regarded 
as  the  only  civilized  nation  upon  earth.  High  Church¬ 
men  are,  in  this  respect,  the  Chinamen  of  Christendom.”* 

The  apostles  appointed  no  successors — in  the  sense 
assumed.  None  even  in  place  of  the  deceased  of  their 
own  number — as  of  James,  the  brother  of  John,  killed 
by  Herod.  Nor  did  they  give  any  directions  or  intima¬ 
tions  about  the  succession  to  their  own  particular  and  [as 
is  contended]  highly  privileged  order.  Matthias  was,  by 
election  and  by  lot,  called  to  the  apostleship,  not  as  the 
successor  of  Judas,  [who  had  never  entered  upon  the 
proper  duties  of  the  office,]  but  as  his  substitute. 

16.  The  early  English  reformers  acknowledged  all 
other  Protestant  churches,  whether  Lutheran  or  Calvin- 
istic,  Presbyterian  or  Episcopal,  as  sister  churches,  and 
as  true  Christian  churches.  And  many  of  the  ablest 
and  most  evangelical  ministers  and  dignitaries  of  the 
English  establishment  have  always  entertained  the  same 
just  and  liberal  sentiments.  The  Archbishop  of  Can¬ 
terbury,  [Tenison,]  said,  in  1707,  that  he  believed  the 
Church  of  Scotland  to  be  as  true  a  Protestant  Church 
as  that  of  England,  though  he  could  not  say  it  was  so 
perfect  .f 

Tillotson,  Tenison,  Wake — were  liberal  and  catholic 
Christian  archbishops : — as  are  Sumner  and  Whately  now. 

In  a  letter  to  Courayer,  dated  July  9, 1724,  Archbishop 
Wake  wrote  thus:  “ I  bless  God  that  I  was  born  and  have 

*  Bib.  Hep.,  vol.  xiv.  p.  139. 

1  Hetkerington’s  History  of  the  Church  of  Scotland,  p.  320,  note. 


412 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


been  bred  in  an  Episcopal  Church,  which,  I  am  convinced, 
has  been  the  government  established  in  the  Christian 
Church  from  the  very  time  of  the  apostles.  But  I  should 
be  unwilling  to  affirm,  that,  where  the  ministry  is  not 
episcopal,  there  is  no  church,  nor  any  true  administra¬ 
tion  of  the  sacraments;  and  very  many  there  are  among 
us  who  are  zealous  for  episcopacy,  yet  dare  not  go  so  far 
as  to  annul  the  ordinances  of  God  performed  by  any 
other  ministry.”* 

Dr.  Sumner,  the  present  Archbishop  of  Canterbury, 
[1851,]  in  a  letter,  speaking  of  certain  continental  Pres¬ 
byterian  divines  then  in  London,  says:  U1  hardly  imagine 
that  there  are  two  bishops  on  the  bench,  or  one  clergy¬ 
man  in  fifty  throughout  our  church,  who  would  deny  the 
validity  of  the  orders  of  these  clergymen  solely  on  account 
of  their  wanting  the  imposition  of  episcopal  hands. 

IT.  Even  Richard  Hooker,  the  most  celebrated  and 
the  most  ingenious  champion  and  defender  of  the  Eng¬ 
lish  Church  as  by  law  established,  did  not  assume  the 
ground  of  Apostolic  succession  in  the  Laudean  or  Puseyite 
sense  of  the  phrase.  When,  in  the  latter  part  of  Eliza¬ 
beth’s  reign,  “he  took  up  his  pen  against  the  Puritans,  in 
justification  of  the  severities  practised  by  the  Queen,  the 
Bishops  and  the  High  Commission,  he  spent  not  his 
strength  upon  the  particular  impositions  of  kneeling  at 
the  sacrament,  the  surplice,  the  sign  of  the  cross  in  bap¬ 
tism,  and  things  of  that  sort,  but  laid  down  the  broad  prin¬ 
ciple  that  the  Church  has  authority  to  impose  such  things 

*  See  Mosheim,  vol.  ii.  p.  312,  note.  Baltimore  edition,  1832. 

f  New  York  Observer,  October  16,  1851. 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


413 


according  to  lier  discretion;  and  that  the  conscience  of 
individuals  and  of  particular  congregations  in  such  mat¬ 
ters  is  not  to  be  regarded;  hut  that  they  may  be  rightly 
and  piously  compelled  to  yield,  by  whatever  penalties 
good  Mother  Church  and  the  sovereign  prince  may  find 
it  necessary  to  employ  for  the  attainment  of  that  end.” 

“  He  was  sufficiently  judicious  to  perceive  that  on  no 
principle  short  of  this,  could  the  rigours  of  the  Church 
be  justified,  or  the  Church  itself,  as  established  in  Eng¬ 
land,  be  vindicated;  and  that  if  this  principle  could  be 
substantiated,  the  robes,  ceremonies  and  liturgies  were 
all  right;  and  the  fines,  the  imprisonments,  the  banish¬ 
ments,  and  the  slaughters  inflicted,  were  all  proper,  just 
and  wholesome  punishments  for  the  coercion  of  the  wick¬ 
edly  rebellious.” 

Accordingly,  the  account  which  Hooker  himself  gives 
of  his  great  work  on  Ecclesiastical  Polity,  is,  that  his 
design  was,  “To  write  a  deliberate  and  sober  Treatise  on 
the  Church’s  Power  to  make  canons  for  the  use  of  cere¬ 
monies,  and  By-Law  to  impose  an  obedience  to  them,  as 
upon  her  children,  and  this  he  proposed  to  do  in  eight 
books  of  the  Laws  of  Ecclesiastical  Polity.” 

“This  was  cutting  up  the  whole  matter  by  the  roots. 
Grant  this  principle  and  there  is  no  further  dispute  about 
surplices,  liturgies  and  ceremonies;  the  Church  may  stand 
upon  her  authority.  There  are  no  rights  of  conscience  in 
the  case;  and  if  any  begin  to  prate  about  conscience,  or 
hesitate  to  yield  a  due  conformity ,  they  may  be  right¬ 
eously  silenced,  imprisoned,  banished,  hanged  or  burnt. 
A  most  convenient  doctrine,  no  doubt,  for  the  prelates 


414 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


and  the  despotic  queen,  in  her  capacity  of  Head  of  the 
Church.”* 

Whit-gift  and  Cartwright  were  among  the  chief  leaders 
in  the  controversy.  “  Cartwright,  the  Puritan,  main¬ 
tained  that  the  Scriptures  were  not  only  the  sole  stand¬ 
ard  of  doctrine,  but  also  of  discipline  and  government, 
and  that  the  Church  of  Christ  in  all  ages  was  to  be  regu¬ 
lated  by  them.  Whitgift,  the  Churchman,  held,  that 
the  Scriptures  were  a  rule  of  faith;  but  not  designed  to 
be  a  standard  of  discipline  and  government— that  this 
was  changeable,  and  might  be  adapted  to  the  civil  gov¬ 
ernment  of  any  country- — and  that  the  times  of  the  apos¬ 
tles  could  not  be  the  best  model,  but  rather  the  first  four 
centuries  of  the  Church,  during  which  she  had  reached  a 
mature  development.  In  what  do  these  views  essentially 
differ  from  the  advocates  and  opponents  of  Patristic  the¬ 
ology  in  the  present  day?”f 

18.  Soon  after,  (about  1588,)  UA  new  principle  was 

promulgated  for  the  support  of  prelatic  power,  of  a  more 

♦ 

formidable  nature  than  any  that  had  hitherto  appeared, 
and  destined  to  produce  the  most  disastrous  results.  Dr. 
Bancroft,  the  archbishop’s  (Whitgift)  chaplain,  in  a  ser¬ 
mon  which  he  preached  at  Paul’s  Cross,  January  12, 1588, 
maintained  that  the  bishops  were  a  distinct  order  from 
priests  or  presbyters,  and  had  authority  over  them  jure 
divino ,  and  directly  from  God.J  This  bold  assertion 


*  Tide  “The  Puritans  and  their  Principles,”  by  Edwin  Hall,  pp. 
124,  125. 

f  Hetherington,  p.  42. 

1  Archbishop  Parker  died  in  15t6,  and  was  succeeded  by  Grindal, 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


415 


created  an  immense  ferment  throughout  the  kingdom. 
* *  *  *  *  The  greater  part  of  even  the  prelatic  party 
themselves  were  startled  with  the  novelty  of  the  doc¬ 
trine;  for  none  of  the  English  reformers  had  ever  re¬ 
garded  the  order  of  bishops  as  anything  else  but  a 
human  institution,  appointed  for  the  more  orderly  gov¬ 
ernment  of  the  Church,  and  they  were  not  prepared  at 
once  to  condemn  as  heretical  all  churches  where  that 
institution  did  not  exist.  Whitgift  himself,  perceiving 
the  use  which  might  be  made  of  such  a  tenet,  said,  that 
the  Doctor’s  sermon  had  done  much  good, — though,  for  his 
own  part,  he  rather  wished  than  believed  it  to  be  true.”* 

During  the  controversies  of  Elizabeth’s  reign,  “The 
Court  party  recognized  the  Church  of  Rome  as  a  true 
Church,  though  corrupt  in  some  points  of  doctrine  and 
government;  and  this  view  it  was  thought  necessary  to 
maintain,  for  without  this  the  English  bishops  could  not 
trace  their  succession  from  the  apostles.  But  the  decided 
reformers  [i.e.  Puritans]  affirmed  the  Pope  to  be  Anti¬ 
christ,  and  the  Church  of  Rome  to  be  no  true  Church; 
nor  would  they  risk  the  validity  of  their  ordinations  on 
the  idea  of  a  succession  through  such  a  channel.”')' 

19.  The  subject  of  Royal  Supremacy  claims  a  passing 
notice.  On  the  20th  of  March,  1534-35,  a  bill  was  passed 
by  Parliament  abolishing  Papal  supremacy  in  England, 
and  declaring  the  King  to  be  the  Supreme  Head  of  the 


who  died  in  1583 — and  was  succeeded  by  Whitgift — and  he  by  Ban¬ 
croft  in  1604.  Parker  and  Whitgift  were  fierce  persecutors — Grindal, 
not.  Elizabeth  died  March  24,  1603.  Hooker  died  Nov.  2,  1600. 

*  Hetherington,  pp.  49,  50.  t  Ibid.,  p.  32. 


416 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


Church  of  England.  Thus  Henry  VIII.  became  the  first 
Pope  of  England. 

“To  this  fatal  dogma  of  the  king’s  supremacy  and 
headship  of  the  Church  of  England  may  be  directly 
traced  nearly  all  the  corruptions  of  the  Church,  and 
nearly  all  the  subsequent  civil  calamities  of  the  British 
Isles.  For  it  would  not  be  difficult  to  prove  that  there 
can  be  no  security  for  either  civil  or  religious  liberty  in 
any  country  where  the  supreme  civil  and  ecclesiastical 
jurisdictions  are  both  possessed  by  the  same  ruling 
power.  It  matters  little  whether  the  ruling  power  be 
ecclesiastical,  holding  the  civil  subordinate  to  it,  as  the 
Papacy;  or  civil,  holding  the  ecclesiastical  subordinate, 
as  in  the  case  of  Henry  and  his  successors;  for  in  either 
case  the  result  is  a  despotism;  under  which  the  people 
must  sink  into  utter  degradation,  or  against  which  they 
are  provoked,  from  time  to  time,  to  rise  in  all  the  dan¬ 
gerous  fierceness  of  revolutionary  convulsion.”* 

Henry  himself  never  became  a  Protestant.  He  was 
as  truly  the  defender  of  the  Roman  faith ,  after  the  abo¬ 
lition  of  the  papal  supremacy  in  England,  as  when  he 
wrote  his  famous  book  against  Luther.  So  arbitrary  and 
so  despotic  was  he  in  his  wayward  inconsistency,  as  to 
extort  from  a  distinguished  stranger  in  England,  toward 
the  close  of  his  reign,  the  cutting  remark,  that,  “  Those 
who  were  against  the  Pope  were  burned,  and  those  who 
were  for  him  were  lianged.”j* 

*  Hetherington,  pp.  IT,  18. 

f  Sir  Thomas  More  was  sentenced  to  be  hanged,  but  was  actually 
beheaded — 1534. 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


417 


20.  A  prima  facie  presumption  against  modern  High 
Church  prelacy  is  suggested  by  the  fact,  that  the  terms, 
bishop  and  presbyter ,  which,  all  agree,  were  at  first  iden¬ 
tical  or  convertible,  came  at  length  to  designate  different 
offices  and  orders  in  the  ministry.  How  shall  ive  ac¬ 
count  for  the  change?  except  by  that  gradual,  imper¬ 
ceptible,  insidious  process,  which  is  so  easy  and  natural 
as  to  elude  suspicion  and  to  silence  inquiry?  The  very 
process  is  still  traceable  in  early  history;  and  by  which, 
in  due  time,  the  more  significant  term  bishop  came  to  be 
appropriated  by  those  who  had  already  won  the  power 
of  overseeing  or  ruling  over  the  church  and  the  eldership 
or  presbytery.* 

21.  Bishops  invariably  had  their  titles  from  the  cities, 
towns,  villages,  or  places  of  their  ordinary  residence — 
from  their  sees,  namely,  or  secies — but  never  from  king¬ 
doms,  states,  provinces,  counties,  or  other  local  appella¬ 
tions,  indicating  or  implying  territorial  jurisdiction,  or 
anything  like  modern  dioceses.  The  same  usage  is  still 
nearly  universal.  The  only  exception  is  the  Episcopal 
Church  in  the  United  States;  where  the  official  style  of 
the  Right  Reverend  dignitary  points  out  the  extent  of 
his  earthly  domain: — as  the  Bishop  of  Indiana,  of  Ken¬ 
tucky,  of  Tennessee,  etc.  Every  bishop  in  Europe  at 
this  day — and  every  Roman  Catholic  bishop  in  the  world 
— has  his  title  from  a  city  or  town,  agreeably  to  ancient 

*  It  is  easy  to  cite  similar  examples :  as  emperor — imperator — at 
first,  only  a  military  general  among  the  Romans.  Pope,  Patriarch — 
only  father  in  the  church.  Ilow  different  now  from  their  primitive 
meaning  !  Thus,  also,  Consul,  President,  as  used  by  the  French. 

VOL.  in. — 21 


41S 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


custom.  Now  what  gave  rise  to  the  custom  ?  Un¬ 
doubtedly  the  fact,  that  the  primitive  bishops  were  mere 
pastors  of  churches  or  congregations.  There  would  fre¬ 
quently — perhaps,  generally — be  only  one  church  or 
flock  in  a  city  or  village;  then  the  stated  minister  would 
be  currently  styled  the  pastor  or  bishop  of  such  city  or 
village.  Should  there  have  been  several  churches  in  one 
city,  as  in  Jerusalem  and  other  large  cities,  the  ministers 
would  constitute  a  presbytery,  with  a  moderator  or  presi¬ 
dent — who,  at  length,  was  regarded  as  the  head  or  bishop 
of  said  churches,  and  finally  as  the  bishop  of  the  city. 
Long  after  this  innovation,  it  came  to  pass  that  adjacent 
territory  was  added  to  the  city  or  episcopal  jurisdiction. 
Thus  the  bishop  became  the  ruler  of  a  province.  Bishops 
of  great  or  capital  cities  became  Metropolitans,  Arch¬ 
bishops,  Patriarchs  and  Popes.  From  such  humble  be¬ 
ginnings  have  arisen  the  highest  titles  and  most  lordly 
dominions  which  have  hitherto  graced  or  disgraced  the 
Christian  hierarchy.  Even  the  Primate  of  all  England 
derives  his  official  designation,  as  Archbishop  of  Can¬ 
terbury,  from  a  locality  so  insignificant,  that  it  would 
scarcely  be  known  at  the  present  day  but  from  that 
pre-eminent  association. 

The  fashion,  thus  early  introduced  into  European 
and  Oriental  Christendom,  has  hitherto  continued  nom¬ 
inally  unchanged.  While  in  this  country,  England’s 
fair  daughter  has  ventured  to  assume  names  and  titles 
more  fully  correspondent  with  the  claims  and  preroga¬ 
tives  asserted.  Rome,  more  modest  or  more  politic, 
remains  in  this,  as  in  more  important  matters,  unal- 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


419 


tered  and  immutable.  Thus,  the  real  governing  Romish 
Bishop  of  Tennessee  (for  example)  is  styled  or  titled  only 
as  the  Bishop  of  Nashville,  etc.  Until  quite  recently, 
the  bishops  of  the  American  Episcopal  Church  used  to 
be  styled  Bishops,  not  of  States,  but  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  churches  within  such  States.  The  late  ven¬ 
erable  and  universally  venerated  Bishop  White  always 
wrote,  as  his  official  title, 66  Bishop  of  the  Protestant  Epis¬ 
copal  Church  in  the  Diocese  or  Commonwealth  of  Penn¬ 
sylvania.”  We  have  already  become  familiar  with  the 
briefer  and  more  comprehensive  forms  of- — Bishop  of  Ten¬ 
nessee;  of  Connecticut;  of  New  Jersey,  and  the  rest. 
With  what  extreme  facility  are  such  apparently  slight 
changes  and  innovations  effected  and  adopted,  even  in 
this  enlightened  age  and  republican  country!* 

22.  Presbyterians  cherish  no  hostility  or  unkindly  sen¬ 
timents  towards  any  system  of  church  polity,  which  is 
not  plainly  contrary  to  Scripture;  or  which  does  not  arro¬ 
gate  to  itself  exclusive  jure  divino  rights  and  jurisdiction. 
English  and  American  Episcopacy,  as  a  mere  human 
institution,  whether  created  by  Church  or  State  or  both, 
might  pass  without  censure  or  rebuke.  And  does  so 
pass,  except  when  it  claims  to  be,  or  rather  when  cer- 

*  By-the-way,  I  have  just  as  good  a  right  to  create  a  Bishop  of 
Rome  or  Naples,  as  the  Bishop  of  Rome  has  to  create  a  Bishop  of 
Nashville  or  St.  Louis.  And  upon  what  ground  or  plea  or  pretence, 
political  or  religious,  a  dozen  ministers,  with  a  score  or  two  of  laymen, 
more  or  less,  [or  indeed  any  other  number  less  than  a  majority  of  the 
legal  voters,]  can  elect  a  man  to  the  episcopate  over  a  whole  State — 
of  Alabama  for  instance — so  as  to  make  him  the  Bishop  of  Alabama — 
would  puzzle  a  constitutional  American  to  explain. 


420 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


tain  of  its  members  proclaim  it  to  be  the  Church — to  the 
excision  or  exclusion  or  unchurching  of  all  non-prelatic 
churches.  We  cheerfully  concede  to  others  all  that  we 
demand  for  ourselves  in  the  premises. 

The  Anglican  Church  is  purely  and  absolutely  Eras¬ 
tian.  As  a  church,  it  is  powerless.  It  possesses  none  of 
the  inherent  or  adventitious  attributes  contended  for  [or 
rather  assumed]  by  Hooker  and  others.  It  is  the  mere 
passive  obedient  subject  and  dependent  of  the  State.  Its 
articles,  creeds,  liturgies,  rites,  ceremonies,  offices,  bene¬ 
fices,  dignities,  are  created  and  sustained  by  the  civil 
government;  and  may  be  modified  or  abolished  at  its 
pleasure.  Every  ecclesiastic,  from  the  country  curate  to 
the  archbishop,  is  just  as  much  a  creature  of  the  sove¬ 
reign  or  of  parliament  as  are  the  town  constable  and  the 
lord  chancellor  or  the  prime  minister.  The  American 
Episcopal  Church  is  differently  constituted.  It  admits 
lay  delegates  to  its  conventions ;  and  has  no  political 
connexion  with  the  State.  Here ,  of  course,  it  cannot 
be  Erastian.  All  established  churches  are  of  necessity, 
more  or  less,  Erastian.  The  Scottish  Presbyterian,  for 
example, — as  well  as  the  English  Episcopal :  though  not 
in  the  same  degree  or  to  the  same  extent. 

23.  The  Union  of  Church  and  State  is  another  prolific 
subject.  Its  history  is  worthy  of  special  study 

In  all  ages  and  countries — under  all  forms  of  religion; 
Jewish,  Pagan,  Mohammedan — the  religious  and  political 
institutions  have  been  so  commingled  and  blended  to¬ 
gether,  as  to  be  scarcely  separable  even  in  theory,  and 
never  in  practice.  The  idea  of  such  an  anomaly  as  that 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  421 


of  a  religion  existing,  prevailing,  flourishing,  without  the 
direct  aid,  countenance  and  support  of  the  civil  govern¬ 
ment,  seems  not  to  have  occurred  to  the  mind  of  rulers, 
statesmen,  politicians  or  philosophers.  During  the  first 
three  centuries  of  our  era,  the  Christian  religion  became 
and  continued  a  striking  example  and  demonstration  of 
the  resistless  energy  of  divine  truth;  and  of  its  intrinsic 
and  independent  powers  of  growth  and  extension.  It 
neither  solicited  nor  expected  nor  coveted  the  smiles  or 
bounty  of  imperial  despotism  or  munificence.  It  looked 
for  support,  neither  to  the  sceptre  of  the  monarch  nor  to 
the  sword  of  the  conqueror.  It  advanced  steadily  and 
rapidly,  not  only  without  worldly  friends  and  legal  toler¬ 
ation,  but  even  against,  and  in  spite  of,  the  most  determ¬ 
ined  and  unrelenting  hostility  of  every  government  and 
sect  under  heaven. 

Constantine  the  Great  was  a  politic  and  sagacious 
prince;  and,  like  his  predecessors,  was  the pontifex  maxi - 
mus  of  Roman  Heathendom.  He  perceived  the  growing 
ascendency  of  the  Christian  faith,  and  the  wise  expedi¬ 
ency  of  becoming  its  ostensible,  if  not  sincere,  protector. 
He  therefore  assumed  the  headship  of  the  Christian 
Church,  instead  of  continuing  to  be  the  head  of  the 
Pagan  temple.  He  thus  consummated,  what  is  usually 
called,  a  union  of  Church  and  State;  and  what  has  been 
erroneously  represented  as  an  encroachment  of  the  Church 
upon  the  State.  Whereas,  the  direct  contrary  was  the 
fact.  Constantine  usurped  or  assumed  the  government 
and  control  of  the  Church,  as  a  pillar  of  the  State,  or  as 
an  instrument  of  power  and  influence:  and  thus  it  has 


422 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


been  with  his  successors  throughout  Christendom  ever 
since.  The  true  Church  of  Christ  has  never  invaded, 
encroached  upon,  or  sought  alliance  or  connexion  with, 
any  civil  government  whatever.  The  latter,  in  the  first 
instance,  became  the  master;  and  is  so,  at  the  present 
day,  in  all  the  Protestant  States  of  Europe.  The  Rom¬ 
ish  hierarchy,  misnamed  the  Catholic  Church — the  most 
crafty  and  successful  contrivance  ever  devised  by  Satan 
as  a  substitute  for  the  true  Church — the  very  embodi¬ 
ment  and  personification  of  Antichrist — did  succeed  in 
gaining  the  supremacy  over  secular  monarchs  and  poten¬ 
tates,  as  well  as  over  the  souls,  bodies  and  estates  of  the 
people.  The  great  Protestant  revolution  reversed  the 
order  of  things,  and  placed  what  has  been  called  the 
Church  in  the  keeping  and  under  the  dominion  of 
the  civil  powers.  And  every  European  religious  estab¬ 
lishment,  whether  Episcopal  or  Presbyterian,  has  been 
cramped,  hindered,  oppressed  and  injured,  just  in  propor¬ 
tion  to  the  degree  and  amount  of  the  Erastian  element 
infused  into  its  organization. 

Until  after  the  settlement  of  certain  English  colonies 


in  North  America,  and  scarcely  until  after  the  achieve¬ 
ment  of  American  independence,  was  there  or  had  there 
ever  been  an  exception  to  the  rule;  namely,  of  an  empire, 
kingdom  or  commonwealth  existing  without  a  national 
or  established  church  or  religion.  In  the  United  States 
alone,  has  religion  been  left  free,  untrammelled,  self-sus¬ 
tained,  and  apparently  uncared  for  by  either  the  General 
or  State  governments. 

Here  it  would  be  well  to  note,  and  carefully  to  investi 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


423 


gate,  the  condition  of  the  church  or  churches  at  and  after 
the  Reformation,  as  modified  and  regulated  by  the  civil 
governments.  As  in  France,  Germany,  Switzerland,  Ge¬ 
neva,  Holland,  Denmark,  Sweden,  Scotland,  England  and 
her  colonies.  More  especially,  to  inquire  how  Presby¬ 
terians  were  circumstanced,  treated,  interfered  with, 
oppressed  and  persecuted — or  favoured  and  patronized 
and  protected  —  by  government.  How  different  also, 
when  disabused  of  all  corrupting  patronage  and  unhal¬ 
lowed  influences. 

In  this  country,  Presbyterians  have  always  asserted 
and  successfully  maintained  their  perfect  independence 
of  the  civil  powers.  This  they  did,  even  in  the  colonies 
(as  Virginia,  New  York,  etc.)  where  an  establishment  pre¬ 
vailed;  and  in  spite  of  legal  or  illegal  pains  and  penalties, 
— of  persecutions,  with  imprisonments,  fines  and  banish¬ 
ments. 

24.  We  often  hear,  in  certain  quarters,  and  read  in 
certain  books,  the  English  well-known  term  Dissenters- — 
as  indicating  or  describing  the  wicked  sects  estranged 
from,  or  never  attached  to,  holy  mother  church,  of 
apostolic,  episcopal,  catholic  order,  succession  and  au¬ 
thority. 

Of  Dissenters ,  there  are  none — there  can  be  none — in 
these  United  States ;  where  no  religious  establishment 
exists  to  dissent  from ! 

Toleration  can  have  no  meaning  or  application  here. 
Nor  can  there  be  any  heresy ,  as  a  crime  —  in  the  old 
European  legal  sense — punishable  by  any  recognized 
civil  or  ecclesiastical  tribunal. 


424 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


Meeting-Houses.  Why  so  called?  Wherefore  still  used 
in  some  places  among  us?  and  more  especially  by  the 
descendants  of  the  exiled  Puritans?  All  denominations 
here  have  the  right,  if  they  please,  to  call  their  houses 
of  worship  churches ,  instead  of  conventicles,  chapels  or 
meeting-houses,  (as  still  they  do  in  England,  according 
to  law,)  and  to  adorn  them  with  steeples,  bells  and 
organs;  and  even  with  altars,  crosses,  confessionals,  bap¬ 
tisteries,  pictures  or  images — according  to  their  taste  or 
fancy. 

25.  What  is  religious  liberty?  Does  our  own  liberal 
republican  government  guaranty  and  secure  to  all  per¬ 
sons  the  natural  indefeasible  rights  of  reason  and  con¬ 
science?  Does  it  tacitly  allow  any  religious  sects  to 
infringe  these  rights  and  to  oppress  individuals  at  pleas¬ 
ure?  How  do  our  Romanists,  for  instance,  deal  with 
heretics?  And  what  is  heresy ,  in  their  judgment  and 
according  to  their  canons?  What  think  you  of  their 
monasteries  and  nunneries,  or  life-prisons  for  both  sexes? 

—  Of  their  whole  array  of  inquisitorial  espionage  and 
vexatious  domestic  scrutinizing  supervision? — Of  their 
vows,  oaths,  penances,  purgatory,  indulgences,  excom¬ 
munications,  passive  obedience  to  priest  and  church, 
clerical  celibacy,  pecuniary  fines  and  exactions,  idolatry 
in  sundry  forms,  masses,  pardons,  absolutions,  miracles 
— with  horrific  anathemas,  extending  to  soul  and  body, 
time  and  eternity? 

Ought  not  the  civil  authorities  to  protect  individuals 

—  citizens  and  strangers — in  the  voluntary  inoffensive 
exercise  of  their  intellect  and  conscience?  and  against 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


425 


all  such  aggressive  and  enormous  despotism?  “Qui  facit 
per  alium,  facit  per  se.” 

Why  should  not  any  man  be  permitted  to  read  the 
Bible,  [in  any  language  or  by  whomsoever  translated,] 
if  he  choose ;  without  dread  of  abuse,  disgrace,  loss  of 
caste ,  or  forfeiture  of  property,  or  of  secret  and  never-to- 
be-revealed  penalties  ? — perhaps  even  of  a  protracted, 
lingering,  inglorious  martyrdom?  Does  not  the  civil  gov¬ 
ernment,  in  such  cases,  become  the  abettor  of  tyranny? 
Does  it  not  uphold  and  encourage  the  worst,  most  de¬ 
grading  species  of  bigotry  and  persecution?  Why  should 
foreign  Catholics,  as  soon  as  they  land  upon  these  shores, 
be  subjected  to  a  spiritual  bondage  or  domination  as  abso¬ 
lute  and  vexatious  as  they  had  fled  from  at  home? — and 
necessarily  involving  all  kinds  and  degrees  of  secular  and 
social  sacrifices  and  sufferings? 

Why  should  the  Pope  of  Rome  have  subjects  among 
the  nominally  free  citizens  of  this  republic,  rather  than 
the  Autocrat  of  Russia  or  the  Grand  Turk  ?  If  it  be 
asserted  'that  the  Pope’s  authority  here  is  merely  spir¬ 
itual,  it  may  be  replied,  that  spiritual  dominion  includes, 
or  is  paramount  to,  all  other.  Whoever  rules  the  spirit, 
the  soul,  the  conscience — and  determines  the  future  des¬ 
tiny  of  his  adherents — is,  in  fact,  and  to  all  intents  and 
purposes,  absolute  master  of  the  man. 

Is  not  every  Catholic  Bishop,  or  ecclesiastic  of  what¬ 
ever  rank,  dignity  or  order,  bound  by  oath  of  fealty  or 
allegiance,  or  rather  of  unqualified  obedience,  to  the 
Roman  Pontiff?  Is  it  not  a  recognized  practical  prin¬ 
ciple  among  them,  that  the  end  justifies  or  sanctifies  the 


426  MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 

means  ?  That  faith  is  not  to  be  kept  with  heretics  ? 
That,  in  fact,  no  man  has  a  right  to  be  a  Protestant? 
That  to  persecute,  is  a  duty?  etc. 

Why  may  not  a  Jew  become  a  Christian,  without  hin¬ 
drance  or  damage,  or  danger  of  persecution  from  parents 
and  kindred? 

I  am  aware  that  extreme  difficulties  beset  this  whole 
subject.  I  would  concede,  and  contend  for,  religious  lib¬ 
erty  and  the  rights  of  conscience,  to  the  fullest  legitimate 
meaning  of  the  terms.  But  not  so  as  to  give  one  sect 
any  preference  or  advantage  over  another;  nor  so  as  to 
authorize  any  sect  to  deal  harshly  or  unjustly  with  its 
own  members,  or  to  punish,  injure  or  degrade  individ¬ 
uals, — contrary  to  the  genius  and  catholic  spirit  of  the 
American  constitutions — both  State  and  National. 

I  suppose  we  would  not  allow  to  Moslems  or  Mormons 
[in  any  of  the  States  as,  at  present,  organized,]  the 
practice  of  polygamy;  nor  to  Hindus  the  satisfaction 
of  burning  widows;  nor  to  idolators  of  any  name  the 
privilege  of  offering  to  their  deities  human  sacrifices — 
even  upon  the  broad  ground  of  religious  liberty,  or  in 
compliance  with  the  urgent  pleadings  and  demands  of 
conscience. 

In  all  cases,  we  should  carefully  distinguish  between 
error  and  the  errorist.  We  may  argue  against  and  con¬ 
demn  Romanism ,  Paganism ,  Mohammedanism ,  Judaism , 
and  all  anti-scriptural  heresies;  and  yet  deal  kindly, 
tenderly,  charitably,  with  the  blind,  ignorant,  deluded 
followers  or  professors  of  any  false  teacher  or  false 
system  whatever. 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  427 

26.  Christianity  appears  under  three  distinctive  and 
characteristic  forms;  which  may  be  denominated  the 
Evangelical,  the  Ritual  and  the  Rationalistic.  These 
forms  always  coexist  in  the  church,  and  are  constantly 
striving  for  the  mastery.  They  have  each  its  peculiar 
basis,  both  objective  and  subjective.  The  evangelical 
form  rests  on  the  Scriptures  as  its  objective  ground;  and 
its  inward  or  subjective  ground  is  an  enlightened  con¬ 
viction  of  sin.  The  ritual  system  rests  outwardly  on 
the  authority  of  the  church,  or  tradition;  inwardly,  on 
a  vague  religious  sentiment.  The  rationalistic  rests 
on  the  human  understanding,  and  internally  on  indiffer¬ 
ence.  These  are  general  remarks,  and  true  only  in  the 
general.* 

The  evangelical  element  prevailed,  and  animated  the 
reformers,  where  the  civil  government  either  let  them 
alone,  allowed  them  to  preach  and  teach  at  discretion,  or 
exercised  no  extreme,  arbitrary,  or  paramount  control. 
Much  of  this  liberty  was  enjoyed  by  the  reformers  on 
the  continent  and  in  Scotland  at  seasons. 

The  ritual  predominated  where  the  government  oper¬ 
ated  in  chief  or  arbitrarily — as  in  England,  under  Henry 
VIII.,  Elizabeth,  James,  etc.  So  also,  in  a  less  degree 
perhaps,  in  Sweden  and  Denmark. 

27.  It  is  no  part  of  my  present  design  to  attempt  a 
formal  or  complete  exposition  of  our  Presbyterian  ecclesi¬ 
astical  polity.  Intelligent  Presbyterians  understand  it 
very  well.  At  any  rate,  they  may  learn  all  about  it  in 
our  Church  Book — where  the  “Plan  of  Government  and 


*  See  at  length,  Princeton  Review,  vol.  xiii.,  Jan.  1846,  pp.  138-40. 


428 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


Discipline”  is  clearly  and  authoritatively  set  forth,  as  we 
hold  and  practise  it. 

Presbyterianism,  in  all  its  essential  principles  and 
features,  is,  we  believe,  the  true  apostolic  system,  as 
unfolded  in  Scripture  and  universally  prevalent  in  the 
primitive  Church.  No  other  ecclesiastical  form  of 
government  and  discipline  can  prefer  equally  valid 
claims  to  a  divine  original.  To  this  extent,  we  believe 
Presbyterian  parity  and  polity  to  be  established  jure 
clivino ,  or  by  right  divine.  That  it  accords  with  the 
humble,  self-denying,  catholic,  holy,  charitable,  unself¬ 
ish  spirit  of  the  gospel  more  perfectly  than  any  other, 
we  doubt  not. 

The  apostolic  church  regimen  and  discipline  may 
possibly  have  undergone  some  changes  or  modifications 
during  the  lifetime  of  the  apostles  themselves — as  expe¬ 
rience  and  circumstances  would  suggest. 

Thus,  at  first,  multitudes  were  readily  admitted  into 
the  church — without  question  or  trial — or,  at  most,  upon 
a  simple  profession  of  belief  in  Jesus  as  the  Messiah. 

They  were  also  appointed  to  office — made  elders  or 
preachers — in  a  rather  summary  way.  Christian  con¬ 
verts  generally,  at  least  Jewish,  appear  to  have  preached 
as  they  had  opportunity.  “  Therefore  they  that  were 
scattered  abroad  went  everywhere  preaching  the  word.” 
(Acts,  iii.  4.)  Thus,  Philip,  and  perhaps  the  other 
Deacons,  preached,  not  as  Deacons,  but  as  Christians. 
Or  they  may  have  been  directly  called  to  the  work  by 
the  Holy  Spirit.  However  all  this  may  have  been  at 
the  beginning,  we  find  a  different  usage  adopted  and 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


429 


recommended  at  a  subsequent  period — as  maybe  learned 
from  Paul’s  Epistles,  particulary  those  to  Timothy  and 
Titus. 

28.  How  soon,,  and  how  easily,  presbytery  was  per¬ 
verted  from  its  primeval  simplicity;  and  how  naturally 
an  ambitious  ejiiscopacy  grew  up,  supplanted  and  super¬ 
seded  it  altogether,  can  be  readily  traced  in  ancient 
history,  and  might  be  aptly  illustrated  by  modern  ex¬ 
perience. 

Presbyter  was  the  appropriate,  scriptural,  technical, 
official  title  or  designation  of  the  highest  ruler  or  eccle¬ 
siastical  functionary  known  during  the  apostolic  age. 
The  term  Bishop  or  Episcopos  indicated  the  peculiar 
work  or  government  to  be  exercised  by  the  presbyter  or 
elder.  The  Presbyter  was  to  take  the  oversight — i.e. 
to  act  as  the  overseer,  superintendent  or  bishop — of  the 
flock  or  congregation.  In  other  words,  the  Presbyter 
was  in  fact,  and,  to  all  intents  and  purposes,  the  actual 
bishop;  and  the  only  kind  of  bishop  ever  known  or 
heard  of  during  the  first  century  at  least.  lie  was 
merely  a  parochial  bishop — or  minister  or  pastor  of  a 
single  church. 

Modern  facts,  as  well  as  ancient,  show  the  tendency 
to  a  worldly  and  lordly  episcopacy,  or  spiritual  aristoc¬ 
racy.  Thus  the  superintendents  of  Lutheran  churches 
in  Denmark,  and  the  presidents  of  Lutheran  consistories 
m  Germany,  are  scarcely  less  powerful  than  their  breth- 
*  ren,  the  bishops  of  the  Lutheran  church  in  Sweden. 

American  Methodism  is  already  episcopal,  both  in 
name  and  fact.  Methodist  Bishops,  in  this  country, 


430  MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


exercise  an  influence  and  control  over  the  churches  and 
people  of  their  communion  (notwithstanding  their  Pres¬ 
byterian  theory  of  ministerial  parity,)  not  surpassed  by 
the  prelates  of  their  Anglican  mother  church. 

A  quasi  episcopacy  might  be  introduced  into  the 
Presbyterian  Church  by  apparently  slight  and  unim¬ 
portant  changes.— As  by  the  election  of  life-moderators 
over  our  Presbyteries,  Synods  and  General  Assemblies. 
In  that  event,  how  soon  should  we  not  have  among  us 
a  superior  or  higher  order  or  degree  in  the  ministry! 

Again,  make  the  General  Assembly  a  standing  or  per¬ 
manent  court,  with  a  Moderator  or  President  during 
life;  and  we  might  soon  boast  of  an  Archbishop  or 
Patriarch  or  “  venerable  Father,”  ( papa  or  Pope,)  as  the 
Head  of  our  republican  church. 

At  present,  our  General  Assembly  exists  only  during 
the  brief  period  of  its  actual  sessions,  some  two  or  three 
weeks  at  most.  The  Scottish  assemblies  continue  by 
their  plenary  commissions,  during  the  entire  year. 

29.  Advert  to  the  origin  and  causes  of  the  diverse 
systems  prevalent  in  the  Protestant  churches.  Consider 
the  political  and  social  circumstances  in  which  the  Refor¬ 
mation  took  place  in  different  countries. — In  Germany, 
under  Luther. — In  Switzerland,  under  Zuinglius. — In 
France  and  Geneva*  under  Calvin. — In  England,  under 
Henry  VIII.,  Edward  VI.,  and  Elizabeth. — In  Scotland, 
under  Knox. — In  Denmark,  Sweden,  Holland,  etc. — To¬ 
gether  with  the  previous  influences  exerted  by  Wicklyffe, 
IIuss,  Jerome  of  Prague — the  Albigenses,  Waldenses, 
Lollards — etc. 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


431 


Consider  how  the  Puritans — though  at  first  inclined 
to  Presbytery — from  necessity,  became  independents,  (so 
called  about  1640,)  when  forced  out  of  the  established 
church  by  Elizabeth  and  the  Stuarts.  Why  some  were 
called  Brownists.  Plow,  at  length,  they  generally  be¬ 
came  Congregationalists  in  name;  with  a  government 
and  discipline,  both  in  Britain  and  America,  bearing 
some  faint  resemblance  to  Presbyterianism.  In  what 
respects  like?  In  what  unlike?  Associations,  Consoci¬ 
ations,  General  Associations,  with  powers  merely  advi¬ 
sory,  it  is  said.  Though,  in  fact,  with  substantive  or 
actual  authority  to  ordain,  dismiss,  suspend,  depose,  etc. 

Strictly  speaking,  there  are  few  or  no  Independents  of 
the  old  Puritan  stock  or  school,  in  either  Old  or  New 
England.  Why  Presbyterianism  never  succeeded  or 
obtained  a  firm  footing  in  England,  may  be  historically 
accounted  for  and  is  worthy  of  special  inquiry.  (Ex¬ 
plain  with  some  details,  etc.)  How  came  it  to  be  adopted 
by  the  famous  Westminster  Assembly  of  Divines?  Some 
say  chiefly  through  the  influence  of  the  Scottish  com¬ 
missioners  in  that  assembly.  Others  hold  a  different 
opinion.* 

*  See  Hetherington. 

The  Westminster  Assembly  of  Divines  consisted  (as  appointed  by 
Parliament,  June  12,  1643,)  of  one  hundred  and  fifty-one  (151)  mem¬ 
bers,  namely,  ten  Lords  and  twenty  Commoners,  as  lay  assessors,  and 
121  Divines.  Together  with  2  Scotch  Elders  and  4  ministers.  Of  the 
specified  list,  about  25  never  appeared  in  the  Assembly — and  to  supply 
the  deficiency,  the  Parliament  summoned  about  21  additional  members 
who  were  termed  “the  superadded  divines.”  “There  were  thus,  in 
whole,  32  lay  assessors,  including  those  from  Scotland  ;  and  142  di¬ 
vines,  including  the  four  Scottish  commissioners.  But  of  these  only 


432 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


The  most  sturdy  and  unyielding  opponents  of  pres¬ 
bytery,  during  the  protracted  sessions  of  the  Assembly, 
were  the  English  Independents  [aided  by  Cromwell,] — 
though  a  very  small  minority.  In  this  opposition,  they 
were  zealously  supported  by  the  Erastian  party — with 
the  learned  Selden  at  their  head. 

30.  Contemplate  the  character  and  morals  of  Presby¬ 
terians  in  all  ages  and  countries.  Have  they  hitherto  or 
ever  been — are  they  now — morally  worse  than  others? 
as  subjects  or  citizens,  as  men  and  Christians?  Are  they 
not  as  pious,  intelligent,  learned,  consistent,  liberal,  just 
and  honourable,  as  any  other  denomination  whatever? 
By  their  fruits  shall  ye  know  them.  We  cheerfully 
abide  the  test  of  Scripture,  and  the  verdict  of  any  com¬ 
petent  honest  jury  of  our  peers. 

31.  The  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States  of 
America  are  unanimously  of  opinion: 

“That  God  alone  is  Lord  of  the  conscience;  and  hath 
left  it  free  from  the  doctrines  and  commandments  of  men, 
which  are  in  anything  contrary  to  his  word,  or  beside  it 

69  appeared  the  first  day  [July  1st,  1643;]  and  generally,  the  attend¬ 
ance  appears  to  have  ranged  between  60  and  80.”  “  They  continued 

to  maintain  their  formal  existence  till  the  22d  of  February,  1649,  about 
three  weeks  after  the  king’s  decapitation,  having  sat  five  years,  six 
months,  and  twenty-two  days,  in  which  time  they  had  held  1163  ses¬ 
sions.”  [Iletherington,  passim.~\ 

Erastians  in  the  Assembly,  viz.,  John  Selden  and  Bulstrode  White- 
locke,  Esquires ;  and  members  of  Parliament.  Also,  Rev.  John 
Lightfoot,  D.I).,  and  Rev.  Thomas  Coleman.  Scottish  members: 
John,  Lord  Maitland,  Sir  Archibald  Johnston,  lay  assessors  or  Elders; 
together  with  the  Rev.  Alexander  Henderson,  George  Gillespie, 
Samuel  Rutherford  and  Robert  Baillie.  These  had  no  vote. 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  433 

in  matters  of  faith  or  worship:  therefore  they  consider 
the  rights  of  private  judgment,  in  all  matters  that 
respect  religion,  as  universal  and  unalienable:  they  do 
not  even  wish  to  see  any  religious  constitution  aided  by 
the  civil  power,  further  than  may  be  necessary  for  pro¬ 
tection  and  security,  and,  at  the  same  time,  be  equal  and 
common  to  all  others.” 

“That  all  church  power,  whether  exercised  by  the 
body  in  general,  or  in  the  way  of  representation  bjT 
delegated  authority,  is  only  ministerial  and  declarative : 
That  is  to  say,  that  the  Holy  Scriptures  are  the  only  rule 
of  faith  and  manners;  that  no  church  judicatory  ought 
to  pretend  to  make  laws,  to  bind  the  conscience  in  virtue 
of  their  own  authority;  and  that  all  their  decisions 
should  be  founded  upon  the  revealed  will  of  God.” 

“  There  is  no  other  head  of  the  church  but  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ.”* 

With  us,  the  Bible  is  everything.  Human  authority 
and  tradition  are  nothing—  in  the  comparison.  A  people, 
with  the  Bible  in  their  hands,  are  competent,  if  they 
will  faithfully  read  and  study  it,  to  decide  on  the  claims 
and  qualifications  of  ministers.  They  can  judge — and 
they  have  a  right  to  judge — both  of  the  doctrine  and 
practice  of  the  preacher. 

32.  Presbyterians  ever  have  been,  and  still  are,  zeal¬ 
ous  in  the  cause  of  universal  education.  They  do  not 
dread  the  light  of  science  and  letters  and  philosophy. 
They  would  not,  if  they  could,  keep  any  portion  of  the 


*  Confession  of  Faith,  pp.  343,  345,  114. 


434 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


people  in  ignorance.  They  always  insist  on  a  learned 
and  thoroughly  educated  ministry, — on  the  union  of 
piety  and  learning.  They  are  well  aware  that,  if  the 
Almighty  has  no  need  of  human  learning  in  the  church, 
neither  has  he  any  need  of  human  ignorance. 

In  our  country,  the  Puritans  of  New  England,  who 
have  always  been  as  nearly  Presbyterian  as  they  dared 
to  be  without  the  name,  and  the  Presbyterians  of  the 
Middle  and  Southern  States,  have  been  the  principal,  if 
not  the  sole,  authors  and  steady  supporters  of  schools 
and  colleges — and  of  popular  education  to  the  greatest 
practicable  extent.  Look  at  old  Harvard,  Yale,  and 
Nassau  Hall!  Calvinistic  Puritans  and  Presbyterians 
built  them  all — as  they  have  built  many  others  since. 
Their  example  has  stimulated  other  denominations  to  do 
likewise. 

They  too  established  the  first  Theological  Seminaries. 
Other  sects  are  following  their  example.  Even  those 
who  were  lately  opposed  to  a  learned  ministry  and  to 
all  the  higher  schools,  are  yielding  to  the  pressure,  and 
raising  up  institutions  of  their  own.  They  owe  much 
to  our  early  and  skilful  pioneering. 

33.  They  are  friendly  to  free  and  thorough  inquiry. 
They  dread  no  investigation  or  scrutiny,  however  rigid 
and  searching.  They  have  no  secrets — no  mysteries — 
no  priestcraft  or  templecraft — nothing  to  conceal  from  the 
eye  of  friend  or  foe.  They  are  never  afraid  of  argu¬ 
ment,  discussion,  debate  or  controversy — when  honour¬ 
ably  and  candidly  conducted.  Ever  ready  to  appeal  to 
Scripture,  and  to  abide  by  its  teachings.  As  witness 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


435 


Calvin,  Knox,  Edwards,  —  and  a  legion  of  giants  in 
every  age. 

34.  Presbyterians  countenance,  aid  and  promote  all 
benevolent,  charitable,  useful,  humane,  religious  (as  well 
as  literary,)  institutions,  plans  and  enterprises.  They 

m 

cordially  co-operate  with  other  denominations  in  all  good 
works,  and  in  all  schemes  for  the  benefit  of  mankind. 
In  these  concerns  and  relations,  they  are  probably  as 
catholic  as  any  other  sect. 

35.  They  are  eminently  conservative,  and  temperate, 
and  judicious— in  seasons  of  political  or  other  excite¬ 
ment  and  popular  exasperation.  As  witness  the  present 
negro  mania- — ultra  abolitionists  at  the  North,  and  ultra 
pro-slavery  secessionists  at  the  South.  Both  extremes, 
(at  least,  their  demagogue  champions,)  at  the  North  and 
South,  are  evidently  aiming  at  a  speedy  dissolution  of 
the  federal  union. 

The  three  General  Assemblies  of  the  three  Grand 

O 

divisions  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  harmonize  and 
concur  in  sentiment  on  these  agitating  subjects.  They 
will  support  the  constitution  and  laws  of  the  republic, 
as  in  duty  bound,  by  every  consideration  which  ought  to 
influence  the  patriot  and  the  Christian, 

The  Presbyterian  host — which  has  never  yielded  a 
passive  or  willing  obedience  to  any  unrighteous  law  or 
to  any  arbitrary  tyrant’s  mandate — will  calmly,  steadily, 
faithfully,  and  successfully,  Deo  volente  et  javante ,  stand 
by,  and  uphold,  and  preserve  the  Union. 

36.  They  never  seek  contentions  or  collisions  with 
sister  evangelical  churches. — Do  not  abuse,  denounce, 


436 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


misrepresent  or  slander  them.  I  have  never  yet  heard 
a  Presbyterian  minister,  in  his  ordinary  pulpit  services, 
speak  an  unkind  or  disparaging  word  of  the  Methodists, 
Baptists,  Episcopalians,  or  other  honest  Bible  Christians. 
[Unless  previously  provoked  by  uncharitable  language 
or  bearing  on  their  part;  and  then,  only  in  self-defence.] 
It  is  not  their  habit.  However  strong  their  preference 
for  their  own  church,  and  however  devoted  to  its  pecu¬ 
liar  welfare,  they  can  and  do  rejoice  at  every  conversion 
of  a  soul  to  God  by  whatever  instrumentality  or  under 
whatever  ecclesiastical  name  or  form. 

* 

37.  They  sometimes  quarrel  among  themselves. 
Have  family  feuds  and  dissensions — occasionally,  pretty 
hard  fighting — rather  fierce  and  bitter  combats — and 
not  very  creditable  to  either  party  concerned.  But  they 
seldom,  if  ever,  desert  the  Presbyterian  banner  and 
standards;  or  make  any  change  either  in  doctrine,  polity 
or  discipline. 

The  numerous  Presbyterian  parties  or  denominations 
in  Scotland  adhere  firmly  and  faithfully  to  the  same 
good  old  Book  of  their  fathers’  honoured  Church  They 
have  pursued  a  similar  course  in  our  own  country.  The 
only  exception  to  the  rule,  is  the  case  of  the  Cumber¬ 
land  Presbyterians.  They  expunged  or  modified  a  doc - 
trine  which  they  ignorantly  misinterpreted,  and  which 
the  most  intelligent  among  them  are  beginning  to  dis¬ 
cover  was  a  capital  mistake.  —  By  which  they  have 
unwittingly  marred  the  beauty  and  scriptural  consist¬ 
ency  of  their  entire  theological  system.  The  common 
polity  they  retain  intact  and  unaltered. 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


437 


Our  New  School  brethren,  after  sundry  novel  experi¬ 
ments  and  trials,  are  getting  back  to  the  ancient  basis 
and  to  the  old  paths,  which  they  seemed  for  a  season  to 
have  repudiated  or  forsaken.  So  that  they  will,  ere 
long,  probably,  be  regarded  as  rigidly  Presbyterian  and 
orthodox  as  the  mother  church  ever  claimed  to  be. 

38.  They  do  not  seek  to  make  proselytes  from  other 
evangelical  churches.  They  do  not  covet  the  fruits  of 
other  men’s  labours.  They  never  intrude  upon  their 
proper  province  or  intermeddle  with  their  legitimate 
work.  All  they  ask  of  their  good  brethren,  is  to  be  let 
alone,  and  to  be  allowed  to  operate  freely  in  their  own 
sphere  without  rebuke,  and  without  officious  or  unchar¬ 
itable  or  jealous  interference. 

In  seasons  of  revival — even  in  our  colleges  where  all 
the  officers  were  Presbyterian,  as  at  Princeton,  N.  J. — I 
have  known  the  most  tender  and  scrupulous  delicacy  to 
be  observed  towards  the  youthful  penitents  and  converts. 
Not  merely  to  the  extent  of  advising  them  to  join  the 
churches  of  their  parents,  but  of  declining  to  receive 
them  into  our  communion  when  earnestly  solicited,  and 
of  sending  them  home  for  parental  counsel  and  direc¬ 
tion.  Such  facts  I  witnessed,  while  connected  with  the 
College  of  New  Jersey,  during  religious  revivals  under 
the  presidency  of  the  late  Dr.  Green.  Has  any  other 
sect  been  more  liberal,  or  less  proselyting  ? 

39.  Presbyterianism  has  generally  found  favour  among 
orthodox  Congregationalists.  The  ablest  divines  in  New 
England  have  expressed  a  decided  preference  for  it. 
Thus,  President  Edwards,  in  a  letter  to  the  Rev.  Dr. 


438 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


Erskine  of  Scotland,  said:  “I  have  long  been  out  of 
conceit  of  our  unsettled,  independent,  confused  way  of 
church  government;  and  the  Presbyterian  way  has  ever 
appeared  to  me  most  agreeable  to  the  word  of  God,  and 
the  reason  and  nature  of  things.”*  He  subsequently 
became  a  member  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick, 
and  President  of  the  only  Presbyterian  College  then  in 
America.  Indeed,  they  seldom  hesitate  to  take  office 
in  our  churches,  colleges  and  other  seminaries;  and  to 
become  zealous  members  of  our  Presbyteries. 

“It  would  give  me  no  pain  to  see  New  England  en 
masse  Presbyterian  in  one  year.”  So  said  the  late  Kev. 
Dr.  Ebenezer  Porter,  Professor  in  the  Andover  Theologi¬ 
cal  Seminary 


*  Hodge,  Hist.,  Part  2,  p.  12. 

f  See  Presbyterian  Magazine  for  September,  1851,  p.  413. 

Says  the  New  York  “Independent,”  [of  October  30,  1851,]  the 
avowed  champion  of  pure  Congregationalism:  “To  us  the  difference 
between  Presbyterianism  a  little  Congregationalized,  and  Congrega¬ 
tionalism  very  much  Presbyterianized,  is  not  great  enough  to  compen¬ 
sate  for  the  mischiefs  of  a  war  which  must  needs  distract  the  councils 
and  weaken  all  the  enterprises  of  our  evangelical  Christianity  in  its 
grand  struggle  with  the  combined  forces  of  infidelity  and  superstition.” 

Says  Dr.  Dwight,  vol.  iv.  p.  399  :  “Puling  Elders  are,  in  my  appre¬ 
hension,  scriptural  officers  of  the  Christian  Church,  and  I  cannot  but 
think  our  defection,  with  respect  to  these,  from  the  practice  of  the  first 
settlers  in  New  England,  an  error  in  ecclesiastical  government.”  Cot¬ 
ton  Mather  expressed  a  similar  opinion.  As  did  also  the  famous  John 
Robinson ,  pastor,  etc.  at  Leyden,  in  a  letter  to  Sir  John  Wolstenholme 
in  1618.  He  says  :  “Touching  the  ecclesiastical  ministry,  viz.,  of  pas¬ 
tors  for  teaching,  Elders  for  ruling,  and  deacons  for  distributing  the 
churches’  contributions,  as  also  for  the  two  sacraments,  Baptism  and 
the  Lord’s  Supper,  we  do  wholly  and  in  all  points  agree  with  the 
French  Deformed  Churches,  according  to  their  published  Confession 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  439 

40.  Presbyterians  have  ever  been,  and  still  are,  a  law- 
abiding  and  obeying  people.  “When  men  live  under  a 
constitution,  either  in  Church  or  State,  they  are  bound 
to  abide  by  it,  and  to  seek  redress  [for  wrongs,  real  or 
imaginary,]  only  in  accordance  with  its  provisions.  It 
is  obvious  that  no  society,  civil  or  ecclesiastical,  can  long 
exist,  whose  members  assume  the  prerogative  of  redress¬ 
ing  their  own  grievances.  In  this  country,  more  than 
in  most  others,  it  is  important  that  the  great  duty  of 
abiding  by  the  law,  should  be  graven  on  the  hearts  of 
the  people.”* * 

Presbyterians  hold:  “That  when  any  matter  is  determ¬ 
ined  by  a  major  vote,  every  member  shall  either  actively 
concur  with,  or  passively  submit  to,  such  determination; 
or  if  his  conscience  permit  him  to  do  neither,  he  shall, 
after  sufficient  liberty  modestly  to  reason  and  remon¬ 
strate,  peaceably  withdraw  from  our  communion,  with¬ 
out  attempting  to  make  any  schism;  provided  always, 
that  this  shall  be  understood  to  extend  only  to  such 
determinations  as  the  body  shall  judge  indispensable  in 
doctrine  or  Presbyterian  government.”]* 

41.  Our  system  of  Polity — in  respect  to  so  much  of 
its  machinery  and  details  as  may  have  proceeded  from 
human  wisdom  and  judgment — is  not  perfect.  We  do 
not  pretend  that  it  is.  It  might  probably  be  improved. 
We  think  it  more  scriptural  and  apostolical,  and  better 

of  Faith.”  “Their  Elders  and  Deacons  are  annual ,  or  at  the  most 
for  two  or  three  years;  ours  perpetual.”  Elder  Brewster  came  over 
in  the  Mayflower.  (From  Presbyterian  Herald  of  March  10,  1853.) 

*  Hodge,  p.  336.  f  Ibid.,  Part  2,  p.  336. 


440 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


adapted  to  the  purposes  of  its  institution,  than  any  other. 
Still,  it  may  not  be  faultless.  We  have  borrowed  much 
from  the  legal,  juridical  and  parliamentary  usages  and 
practice  of  Great  Britain  and  our  own  government. 
Whether,  in  these  imitations,  we  have  proceeded  too 
far  or  not  far  enough,  or  whether  such  models  or  exam¬ 
ples  ought  to  be  followed  at  all,  might  become  questions 
for  grave  inquiry  and  deliberation. 

Upon  a  calm  survey  of  this  whole  subject,  perhaps  the 
greatest  defect  or  most  obvious  want  would  be  found  in 
our  singular  judicial  provisions  and  proceedings.  All  our 
presbyterial  or  ecclesiastical  bodies,  from  the  church  ses¬ 
sion  to  the  General  Assembly — without  the  advantage 
of  a  division  into  two  separate  houses  or  chambers — are 
not  only  deliberative  and  legislative  councils,  but  may, 
at  any  time,  become  judicial  tribunals  or  courts  for  the 
trial  of  all  cases  of  heresy  or  unchristian  conduct  which 
can  arise  under  our  church  constitution. 

This  anomalous  defect  is  partially  supplied  in  Scot¬ 
land  by  a  Commission  with  plenary  powers,  appointed 
annually  by  the  General  Assembly.  Attempts  have 
been  made  to  introduce  [or  revive]  the  custom  into  our 
church.  Among  the  advocates  of  the  measure  was  Dr. 
Hodge  in  1846-47.  He  presented  an  elaborate  report 
in  this  behalf  to  the  General  Assembly  which  met  at 
Richmond  in  1847.  Such,  indeed,  had  been  the  usage 
in  our  church,  under  Synods,  before  the  creation  of  our 
General  Assembly,  and  the  adoption  of  our  present  con¬ 
stitution  in  1789. 

Dr.  Hodge,  in  his  History  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


441 


in  the  United  States,  after  describing  the  character  and 
functions  of  the  Commission  under  the  Synods,  and  en¬ 
larging  upon  its  advantages,  adds  as  follows:  aOur  judi¬ 
catories  are  sometimes  so  oppressed  with  judicial  business, 
that  it  might  be  well,  on  some  occasions,  to  resort  to  this 
old  usage  of  our  church,  and  appoint  committees  with 
plenary  powers.  Most  men  would  be  as  willing  to  have 
a  cause  in  which  they  were  interested,  decided  by  ten 
good  men  as  by  a  hundred.  Much  time  would  thus  be 
saved,  and  many  details  of  evidence  kept  from  coming 
before  a  large  assembly.”* 

Many  serious  objections  might  be  urged  against  a  Com¬ 
mission  like  the  Scottish — -as  its  acts,  for  a  hundred  years, 
while  Moderatism  was  in  the  ascendant,  may  abundantly 
demonstrate.  Under  the  sway  of  Moderate  policy,  when 
the  arbitrary  decrees  of  the  Assembly  were  regularly  car¬ 
ried  into  effect  by  these  “  Riding  Committees,”  as  they 
were  termed,  we  have  such  fearful  examples  of  the  spir¬ 
itual  despotism  of  which  they  were  made  the  instru¬ 
ments,  as  may  serve  to  warn  us  of  the  peril  of  any 
similar  experiment: j* 

Here  we  might  notice  the  difficulties  and  evils  of  our 
existing  system — of  ultimate  trial  and  appellate  jurisdic¬ 
tion  by  the  General  Assembly.  The  character  of  the 
Assembly — ever  changing — often  composed  of  very  infe¬ 
rior  men — not  equal  sometimes  to  many  a  Synod— and 


*  Part  2,  p.  43U 

j-  For  some  account  of  the  evils  of  Commissions,  see  Hetherington’s 
History  of  the  Church  of  Scotland,  pp.  340,  341.  See  also  page  184 
for  the  origin  of  said  Commission  in  Scotland. 


442 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


seldom,  a  fair  representation  of  even  the  average  wisdom, 
talent  and  learning  of  the  church.  Our  commissioners 
to  the  highest  court  are  often  chosen  upon  the  popular 
principle  of  rotation  in  office,  so  that  each  presbyter  may 
serve  in  his  turn,  without  regard  to  age  or  qualifications. 

What  is  the  remedy?  Why  not  create  a  distinct  or 
separate  judicial  tribunal,  or  ecclesiastical  court,  or  bench 
of  judges? — An  independent  judiciary?  Such  as  all  en¬ 
lightened  jurists  and  publicists  agree,  is  essential  to  the 
administration  of  impartial  justice,  and  to  the  due  main¬ 
tenance  of  personal  liberty,  under  every  form  of  civil 
government. 

Should  the  principle,  of  an  independent  j  udiciary,  be 
adopted,  we  next  inquire:  Shall  there  be  one  supreme 
court,  with  original  and  appellate  jurisdiction,  or  with 
appellate  jurisdiction  only?  together  with  inferior  or 
subordinate  courts— corresponding  to  our  district  or  cir¬ 
cuit  courts?  How  many  judges  shall  there  be  upon  the 
one,  or  upon  the  several  benches?  For  how  long  a  time 
shall  they  hold  office?  By  whom  shall  they  be  appointed? 
by  Presbyteries,  Synods  or  General  Assembly? 

Suppose  Presbyteries  were  to  continue  in  the  exercise 
of  the  same  powers  as  heretofore,  and  that  all  cases  of 
appeal,  reference,  complaint,  etc.  should  be  carried  up  to 
the  district  or  circuit  court;  and  thence,  if  necessary,  to 
the  supreme  court,  for  final  adjudication? 

To  preserve  harmony  in  judicial  decisions,  the  records 
of  the  inferior  courts  should  pass  in  review  before  the 
supreme  court;  and  all  illegal  or  anomalous  proceedings 
be  corrected. 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


443 


The  decisions  of  the  supreme  court  might  also  be 
reviewed  by  the  General  Assembly,  and  be  approved  or 
disapproved;  but  never  reversed  or  set  aside.  If  disap¬ 
proved,  reasons  should  be  assigned.  The  Scottish  Gen¬ 
eral  Assembly  never  reverse  or  annul  the  doings  of  their 
“ Commission;”  though  they  sometimes  express  dissatis¬ 
faction. 

The  ablest  and  wisest  men  in  the  whole  church  ought, 
of  course,  to  be  chosen  for  the  judicial  office.  And  the 
elective  vote  should  always  be  by  ballot.  Perhaps  three 
or  five  years  might  be  the  term  of  office. — The  incum¬ 
bents  being  re-eligible,  etc. 

The  highest  or  supreme  court  should  sit  long  enough 
to  dispose  of  all  cases  that  might  annually  come  before  it. 

I  am  inclined  to  the  opinion  that  one  court — a  supreme 
court,  of  course — would  suffice. — [Without  any  circuit  or 
district  or  other  inferior  courts.]  Let  cases  be  tried  in 
Presbytery  as  at  present.  If  further  judicial  action  be 
advisable,  let  the  parties  go  at  once  to  the  supreme  court 
— just  as  they  now  do  to  the  General  Assembly.  This 
would  greatly  simplify  the  whole  system — shorten  the 
time,  and  diminish  the  expense  of  litigation. 

The  vast  extent  of  our  republic  will  render  a  change 
of  some  kind  indispensable  very  soon.  What  shall  we 
do  with  cases  arising  in  California,  Oregon,  etc.?  To  say 
nothing  of  our  Presbyteries  in  India  or  other  foreign  and 
remote  countries?  How  small,  comparatively,  is  old  Scot¬ 
land,  our  good  mother  and  pattern? — With  only  20,014 
square  miles — and  including  the  adjacent  islands,  only 
29,600? 


444  MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 

N.  B.  —  Perliaps  the  better  way  would  be  to  leave 
Church  Sessions,  Presbyteries  and  Synods  to  act  as 
heretofore,  and  to  have  one  supreme  court  with  appel¬ 
late  jurisdiction  only. 

42.  Presbyterians  claim  to  be  true  Episcopalians,  but 
not  prelatists.  They  maintain  that  Presbytery  is  the 
true  scriptural  Episcopacy.  They  claim  to  be  the  legiti¬ 
mate  successors  of  the  apostles,  though  not  by  any  virtue 
communicated  and  transmitted  in  the  act  of  ordination. 
They  also  have  three  orders  or  degrees  or  kinds  of  church 
officers:  as  Bishops,  Puling  Elders  and  Deacons.  Though 
they  acknowledge  but  one  order  in  the  ministry  of  the 
word.  With  them  the  scriptural  terms,  bishop  and  pres¬ 
byter,  are  synonymous.  Hence  they  recognize  Episcopal 
ordination  as  being  identical  with  Presbyterian  ordina¬ 
tion — and,  of  course,  equally  valid.  Our  ministers  are 
as  truly  bishops,  and  as  truly  successors  of  the  apos¬ 
tles  as  his  Grace  of  Canterbury  or  his  Holiness  at 
Borne.* 

43.  Is  it  indispensable  that  a  Presbyterian  minister  or 
other  office-bearer  should  believe  or  approve  everything 
contained  in  our  Confession  of  Faith,  Catechisms,  Form 
of  Government,  Book  of  Discipline  and  Directory  for 
Worship?  Answer:  Men  may  differ  in  opinion  about 
non-essentials — such,  namely,  as  do  not  involve  any 
fundamental  doctrine  or  principle,  or  such  as  need  not 
be  made  matters  of  conscience — provided  no  schism,  divi¬ 
sion,  hostility  or  controversy  be  provoked  or  encouraged 
thereby.  Men  may  submit  in  peace  and  charity  to 


*  See  Biblical  Repertory,  vol.  xiii.  pp.  1,  2,  etc. 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  445 

rules  and  laws  which,  they  do  not  entirely  approve. 
They  may,  moreover,  in  a  peaceful  and  legitimate  way, 
endeavour  to  effect  repeals,  alterations,  amendments  or 
modifications  in  the  existing  code,  in  order  to  meet 
their  views  5 — without  criminality,  and  without  giving 
just  cause  of  offence. 

1.  Thus,  many  believe  that  Elders  and  Deacons  ought 
to  he  ordained  with  the  same  formalities  as  ministers — 
namely,  by  imposition  of  hands.* 

2.  Others  think  that  these  officers  ought  to  he  chosen 
for  short  or  limited  periods — as  for  one,  or  two  years,  etc. 

3.  Some,  again,  doubt  whether  there  be  any  scriptural 
warrant  for  the  distinction  between  preaching  and  ruling 
elders. 

4.  Many  object  to  our  doctrine  or  rule  concerning  the 
degrees  of  affinity  prohibited  in  marriage — namely,  to 
the  following  passage  of  Section  4,  of  Chapter  24,  of  the 
Confession  of  Faith:  “The  man  may  not  marry  any  of 
his  wife’s  kindred  nearer  in  blood  than  he  may  of  his 
own,  nor  the  woman  of  her  husband’s  kindred  nearer  in 
blood  than  of  her  own.” 

44.  In  Scotland,  formerly,  elders  were  elected  to  serve 
for  one  year.  They  now  hold  for  life,  or  during  good 
behaviour.  In  Holland,  and  in  the  Dutch  Reformed 
Church  of  this  country,  they  are  chosen  for  two  years. 
They  are,  however,  re-eligible.  One  ordination  serves 
for  life.  They  continue  to  be  elders  in  rank,  order  and 
name — though  without  authority  or  vote  when  not  in 
actual  office.  In  Geneva,  the  lay  elders  are  twice  as 


*  The  late  Dr.  Miller,  among  others,  entertained  this  opinion. 


446 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


numerous  as  the  clerical:  and  hence  their  superior  con¬ 
trol  in  all  church  affairs.* 

45.  Deacons .  What  was  their  true  character?  their 
proper  office  ?  their  specific  duties  ?  How  did  their 
ordination  differ  from  that  of  presbyters?  Were  there 
deacons  before  the  appointment  of  the  seven  mentioned 
in  sixth  of  Acts?  etc.f 

Were  there  Deaconesses  in  the  primitive  apostolic 
church  ?J 

46.  We  would  denounce  no  church  organization  which 
does  not  withhold  the  pure  gospel  from  the  people;  or 
which  does  not  preach  another  gospel,  or  substitute  its 
own  inventions  in  place  of  the  gospel — as  does  Rome. 

Evangelical,  Low  Church  Episcopacy,  such  as  Whately 
holds,  may  be  harmless  and  unobjectionable.  We  do  not 
quarrel  with  it — though  some  do. 

47.  Presbyterians  are  everywhere  spoken  against.  All 
sects  unite  in  hostility  to  them  and  their  system — either 
on  account  of  their  Calvinistic  doctrine  or  peculiar  church 
polity.  So  do  politicians,  philosophers  and  all  sorts  of 
infidels. 

48.  Church  officers.  1.  Apostles .  “And  God  hath  set 
some  in  the  church,  first  apostles,  secondarily  prophets, 
thirdly  teachers,  after  that  miracles,  then  gifts  of  heal¬ 
ings,  helps,  governments,  diversities  of  tongues.”  (1  Cor. 
xii.  28.) 

*  For  an  account  of  the  discussions  and  decisions  about  Ruling 
Elders  in  the  Westminster  Assembly  of  Divines,  see  Hetherington’s 
History  of  said  Assembly,  p.  143. 

f  See  as  above,  pp.  143,  144. 

{  See  Rom.  xvi.  1.  Also,  Coleman’s  Antiquities,  p.  115. 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  447 

“And  lie  gave  some,  apostles;  and  some,  prophets;  and 
some,  evangelists;  and  some,  pastors  and  teachers.”  (Eph. 

iv.  11.) 

2.  Prophets.  “Having  then  gifts,  differing  according 
to  the  grace  that  is  given  to  us,  whether  prophecy,  let 
us  prophesy  according  to  the  proportion  of  faith;”  etc. 
(Rom.  xii.  6,  etc.;  1  Cor.  xii.  28;  Eph.  iv.  11.) 

3.  Evangelists.  (Eph.  iv.  11.) 

4.  Pastors  and  Teachers.  (Eph.  iv.  11;  1  Cor.  xii.  28.) 
“Now  there  were  in  the  church  that  was  at  Antioch 

certain  prophets  and  teachers;”  etc.  (Rom.  xiii.  1.) 

5.  Elders — both  riding  and  teaching.  “Let  the  elders 
that  rule  well,  be  counted  worthy  of  double  honour,  espe¬ 
cially  they  who  labour  in  the  word  and  doctrine.”  (1  Tim. 

v.  17.) 

6.  Deacons.  For  their  appointment,  see  Acts,  vi.  verses 
1  to  6.  For  their  qualifications,  see  1  Tim.  iii.  8,  9,  10, 
11,  12,  13.* 

7.  Deaconesses.  “The  office  of  deaconess  may  be  re¬ 
garded  as  substantially  the  same  with  that  of  femcde 
presbyters.  They  were  early  known  in  the  church  by 
a  variety  of  names,  all  of  which,  with  some  circumstan¬ 
tial  variations,  denoted  the  same  class  of  persons.”  *  *  * 
“Their  most  frequent  appellation  however  is  that  of 
deaconess ,  diaconissa ,  a  term  which  does  not  occur  in 
the  Scriptures,  though  reference  is  undoubtedly  had  to 
the  office  in  Rom.  xvi.  l.”f 

“I  commend  unto  you  Phebe  our  sister,  which  is  a 


*  See  Coleman’s  Antiquities  of  the  Christian  Church,  pp.  108,  etc. 
f  Coleman,  p.  115. 


448 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


servant  of  the  church  which  is  at  Cenchrea.”  (Rom. 
xvi.  1.) 

49.  A  comparison  of  the  Levitical  with  the  Episcopal 
priesthood,  w7ill  demonstrate  that  the  former  was  not, 
and  could  not  be,  a  type  of  the  latter.  The  grades  are 
ranged  thus: — 

Type  or  Shadow.  Antitype  or  Substance. 

High-Priest, . Bishop. 

Priest,  . *  .  Priest. 

Levite, . Deacon. 

Now  in  what  do  they  resemble  each  other?  Did  the 
High-Priest  ordain  the  priest?  But  the  discussion  need 
not  be  pursued  further  now. 

50.  Ministers  of  the  gospel  may  now  be  regarded  as 
sustaining  a  twofold  character  and  relation.  First ,  as 
heralds  of  salvation,  duly  commissioned  to  preach  the 
gospel  to  sinners;  and  secondly ,  as  the  officers  and  advo¬ 
cates  of  the  particular  church  to  which  they  belong. 
Thus  the  Episcopalian,  the  Independent,  the  Presby¬ 
terian,  the  Methodist,  the  Baptist — while  they  sever¬ 
ally  break  the  bread  of  life  and  unfold  the  mysteries 
of  divine  revelation  in  all  honesty  and  godly  simplicity 
— feel  it  to  be  their  duty  also  to  inculcate  and  defend 
their  own  respective  tenets  and  ecclesiastical  polity. 
These  two  distinct  classes  of  duty  are  often  so  mixed 
up  and  confounded,  as  to  occasion  bitter  controversies, 
lamentable  breaches  of  charity,  and  the  most  egregious 
mistakes  about  the  essential  attributes  of  genuine  piety. 

It  is  desirable,  certainly,  that  every  Presbyterian  should 
be  made  acquainted  with  the  theory,  principles  and  ad- 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


449 


vantages  of  the  Presbyterian  form  of  church  government. 
J ust  as  it  is  desirable  that  every  American  citizen  should 
be  well  informed  concerning  the  constitution,  laws  and 
policy  of  his  country.  Not  that  this  knowledge  is  abso¬ 
lutely  essential  in  either  case  to  constitute  a  sincere 
Christian.  But  as  every  man  owes  allegiance,  fealty, 
obedience,  duty,  to  the  civil  government  which  protects 
him,  and  to  the  church  which  provides  for  his  spiritual 
wants,  and  which  guides  his  steps  onward  and  upward 
toward  the  heavenly  Canaan,  it  is  difficult  to  conceive 
that  he  can  be  a  very  exemplary  and  useful  citizen  or 
Christian  while  ignorant  of  his  relations  and  obligations 
in  so  large  a  province  or  department  of  active  service. 

A  Presbyterian  Bishop  ought  then  to  instruct  his  Pres¬ 
byterian  flock  upon  the  subject  of  Presbyterian  Church 
Government.  He  ought  to  show  them  that  church  gov¬ 
ernment,  like  civil  government  and  parental  government, 
is  a  divine  institution— necessary  to  the  very  existence 
of  the  church,  and  to  the  well-being  of  every  society 
great  and  small — and,  therefore,  that  obedience  to  such, 
church  government  as  they  may  have  voluntarily  pre¬ 
ferred,  is  as  much  a  duty  as  obedience  to  parents  or  civil 
magistrates.  He  ought  to  show  them  that  the  Presby¬ 
terian  system  is  scriptural;  that  is,  not  only  not  contrary 
to  Scripture,  but  as  strictly  in  accordance  with  apostolic 
usage  as  could  reasonably  be  desired;  and  that,  on  this 
score,  no  other  denomination  can  boast  of  precedence  or 
advantage.  That  it  is  congenial  with  the  tenor,  spirit 
and  benevolent  character  of  the  entire  Christian  Scrip¬ 
tures — eminently  auspicious  to  evangelical  truth  and 
vol.  hi. — 29 


450 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


purity — harmonizing  exactly  with  the  civil  government 
and  free  institutions  of  our  own  favoured  country — and 
that  it  is  in  truth  as  perfect  a  model  of  a  pure  democ¬ 
racy  or  representative  republic  as  can  be  found  in  the 
wrorld.  Should  he  be  called  to  preach  an  occasional 
sermon  to  a  people  or  congregation,  not  Presbyterian 
in  government,  he  ought  to  say  nothing  on  the  subject. 
He  ought  then  neither  to  laud  his  own  nor  to  censure 
any  other. — Just  as  he  would  abstain  from  inculcating 
republicanism  or  depreciating  monarchy  in  Austria, 
Britain  or  Eussia. 

A  man  may,  however,  be  a  rigid  Presbyterian,  and 
yet  be  but  a  sorry  Christian.  And  we  venture,  with  all 
humility,  and  with  becoming  deference  to  superior  wis¬ 
dom  and  knowledge,  to  assert,  at  least  to  hope,  that  it 
is  possible  for  a  man  to  be  a  conscientious,  enlightened, 
judicious,  liberal,  charitable,  laborious,  self-denying  Pres¬ 
byterian  bishop,  and  at  the  same  time  maintain  the  char¬ 
acter  and  discharge  the  duties  of  a  Christian  minister 
and  a  Christian  citizen  as  completely  as  ever  did  the 
most  devoted  apostle ;  or  as  do  any  of  our  equally 
conscientious  and  gifted  brethren  of  other  evangelical 
churches. 

Christians  have  adopted  creeds,  confessions,  or  articles 
of  doctrinal  belief,  which  differ  from  one  another.  Here 
it  may  be  observed,  that  no  system  of  opinions  or  series 
of  propositions  distinctly  enunciated,  is  enjoined  in  Scrip¬ 
ture  as  the  object  of  faith  or  as  essential  to  salvation. 
The  faith  spoken  of  in  the  gospel  has  respect  to  an  indi¬ 
vidual,  to  the  Messiah,  Jesus  Christ,  the  Son  of  God  and 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


451 


the  Saviour  of  sinners;  and  it  implies  obedience  to  all 
his  commandments  and  instructions.  The  term  doctrine , 
in  the  New  Testament,  does  not  mean  a  speculative  opin¬ 
ion,  but  a  practical  precept  or  principle.  Every  man, 
with  the  Bible  in  his  hands,  is  at  liberty  to  interpret 
the  divine  will  as  therein  exhibited,  according  to  his 
own  best  judgment.  This  privilege  is  conceded  to  him 
by  the  gospel  and  by  the  common  consent  of  Protestants. 
Neither  his  reason  nor  his  conscience  ought  to  be  en¬ 
slaved,  or  subjected  to  the  arbitrary  will  or  dictation  of 
any  human  power  or  judicatory  whatever.  He  may 
voluntarily  adopt  the  creed  or  confession  of  any  church; 
and  then  he  is  bound  in  conscience  and  honour  to  adhere 
to  it,  so  long  as  he  sustains  the  relation  implied  and 
created  by  such  a  connexion. 

Protestants  intended  that  the  Bible  alone  should  be 
their  paramount  rule  of  faith  and  practice.  In  subor¬ 
dination  to  this  principle  and  with  its  explicit  recog¬ 
nition,  they  soon  found  it  necessary  or  expedient  to 
prepare  certain  compendious  formularies,  exhibiting  the 
most  prominent  articles  of  their  scriptural  belief;  in 
order  to  avoid  the  misconstruction  of  their  enemies, 
and  to  maintain  harmony,  union  and  concert  among 
themselves.  Whether  they  acted  wisely  or  unwisely, 
is  not  the  matter  of  our  present  inquiry.  It  would 
not  be  very  charitable  or  discreet  to  condemn  their 
conduct  in  this  particular,  until  it  be  shown  that  any 
sect  or  denomination  of  Christians  has  been  able  to  get 
along  without  a  creed  of  some  sort,  expressed  or  well 
understood.  Those,  at  this  day,  who  have  no  written 


I 


452 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


or  printed  creeds,  or  who  profess  to  make  the  Bible  their 
only  guide  and  standard,  do  nevertheless  impose  their  own 
peculiar  interpretations  and  translations  upon  their  dis¬ 
ciples:  and  they  all  have  some  formal  test  of  qualification 
for  church  membership.  We  have  yet  to  learn  whether 
the  Bible,  simply  and  exclusively,  and  agreeably  to  each 
individual’s  own  construction  of  its  import,  can  be  made 
the  sole  bond  of  union,  communion  and  church  fellowship 
among  any  set  or  association  of  Christians. 

In  this  connexion,  a  question  of  some  practical  im¬ 
portance  arises:  How  ought  our  Protestant  Presbyterian 
Church  to  regard  and  treat  other  Protestant  Churches? 

1.  I  answer,  in  the  first  place:  It  would  be  contrary 
to  the  express  statutes  and  pervading  spirit  of  our  liberal 
code,  to  excommunicate,  anathematize  or  condemn  other 
churches,  or  to  inflict  upon  them  any  judicial  or  formal 
censure  whatever.  If  we  do  not  like  them,  we  may  let 
them  alone.  I  see  no  necessity  or  propriety  in  ever  de¬ 
nouncing  them  from  the  pulpit.  We  cannot  enlighten, 
convince  or  benefit  the  distant  or  absent  members  of  a 
heterodox  church  by  preaching  against  them — much  less 
by  abusing  them.  If  we  believe  them  to  be  in  such  dark¬ 
ness  and  error  as  to  endanger  their  salvation,  Christian 
charity  and  common  humanity  should  induce  us  rather 
to  send  missionaries  to  convert  them,  as  we  would  to 
Pagans,  Jews  and  Mohammedans.  Should  a  Christian 
Church  refuse  to  acknowledge  us  as  a  Christian  Church, 
we  are  not  therefore  bound  to  retaliate,  and  to  render 
evil  for  evil.  We  ought  rather  to  suffer  wrong,  and  to 
leave  the  issue  with  God.  Christian  charity,  however, 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  453 


does  not  require  us  to  admit  to  the  ordinances  and  privi¬ 
leges  of  our  church,  the  members  of  any  other  church, 
unless  we  are  satisfied  in  regard  to  their  faith,  character 
and  habitual  practice.  On  this  subject,  as  an  independ¬ 
ent  Christian  society,  we  have  a  right  to  exercise  our 
owm  judgment  and  discretion  in  the  premises.  And 
while  we  concede  to  all  other  denominations  the  same 
right,  they  can  have  no  just  ground  of  complaint  or 
offence.  Thus  far,  the  course  of  duty  and  propriety 
seems  pretty  plain  and  obvious. 

2.  But,  in  the  second  place :  How  is  a  particular 
church  or  congregation  to  regulate  its  intercourse  with 
other  churches,  of  different  names,  in  the  same  city  or 
town  or  vicinage  ?  I  answer,  that  in  all  cases  of  church 
fellowship  and  intercommunion,  a  perfect  reciprocity  of 
kind  and  friendly  offices  ought  to  obtain.  Each  should 
admit  the  other  to  be  in  all  respects  her  equal.  If  we 
invite  her  members  to  commune  with  us,  wre  ought,  when 
occasion  offers,  cheerfully  to  commune  with  them  at  her 
own  board.  If  we  accept  her  invitation,  we  ought  to 
reciprocate  the  favour  or  the  courtesy.  But  if,  on  the 
other  hand,  she  should  admit  us  to  her  communion  and 
refuse  to  come  to  ours;  or  if  we  should  admit  them  to 
ours  and  refuse  to  go  to  hers;  it  is  manifest  that,  after 
a  fair  experiment  of  this  left-handed  civility,  all  inter¬ 
course  between  the  parties,  as  churches,  must  cease  and 
determine. — Unless  one  party  shall  be  willing  to  yield 
to  the  exclusive  pretensions  of  the  other.  A  concession, 
which  neither  Christian  charity  nor  the  laws  of  self- 
respect  can  ever  demand. 


454  MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


The  same  general  rule  is  applicable  to  occasional  at¬ 
tendance  on  the  ordinary  public  worship  of  the  several 
churches  by  the  people,  and  to  the  exchange  of  pulpits 
by  the  clergy;  as  also  to  the  use  of  each  other’s  houses, 
on  any  emergency,  either  for  divine  service  or  other  pur¬ 
poses;  to  the  recognition  of  the  validity  of  each  other’s 
official  acts  and  ordinances,  as  baptism,  the  eucharist, 
and  ordination;  and,  indeed,  to  the  entire  subject,  in  all 
its  details,  of  neighbourly  intercourse  and  interchange  of 
civilities.  If  the  whole,  and  each  particular,  be  not  on 
a  footing  of  acknowledged  and  open-hearted  equality  and 
reciprocity,  the  parties  had  better  cherish  the  spirit  of 
brotherly  kindness  and  charity  by  keeping  at  a  respectful 
distance  from  each  other’s  holy  festivals  and  holy  places. 
Mutual  suspicion,  jealousy,  irritation  and  hostility  would 
be  the  natural  and  inevitable  result  of  any  half-way 
course  or  system.  In  such  matters,  there  must  be  no 
concealment,  no  duplicity,  no  mental  reservations,  no 
affected  superiority,  no  parade  of  unmeaning  liberality, 
no  protecting  condescension,  none  of  that  fastidious 
courtly  delicacy  which  insinuates  or  seems  to  say, 
“mine  is  better  than  thine,”  and  nothing  of  that  lordly 
churchism  and  somewhat  ludicrous  bigotry  which  boldly 
proclaims,  “my  church  is  the  only  true  church,  and 
your  church  is  no  church  at  all.” 

Our  Presbyteries  and  Synods  are  not  bound,  by  any 
considerations  of  duty  or  kindness,  to  invite  ministers 
of  other  persuasions  to  sit  with  them  as  correspond¬ 
ing  members,  whose  own  conferences  or  conventions 
or  associations  would  not,  in  similar  cases,  extend 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  455 


to  us  the  same  token  of  fraternal  confidence  and  re¬ 
gard. 

We,  as  Presbyterians,  I  trust,  will  never  arrogantly 
claim  or  covet  what  we  would  not  cheerfully  accord; 
nor  stoop  to  surrender  the  smallest  iota  even  of  etiquette 
which  would  imply,  or  could  be  construed  to  imply,  any 
inferiority  on  our  part,  or  the  acknowledgment  of  any 
superiority  on  the  part  of  others. 

None  of  these  remarks  are  designed  to  have  the  slight¬ 
est  bearing  on  the  common  social  intercourse  of  families 
or  individuals.  Such  intercourse  must  be  regulated  by 
the  tastes,  interests  or  caprices  of  the  parties  themselves. 
We  may  visit,  and  receive  the  visits  of  Jews,  Pagans, 
Turks  or  Mormons,  as  may  suit  our  fancy  or  inclination. 

Now  should  any  man  conceit  that  I  have  betrayed 
an  illiberal  or  sectarian  spirit  in  any  portion  of  this  dis¬ 
course,  I  would  respectfully  beg  him  to  inform  us  how 
he  would  speak  of  his  own  church  under  similar  circum¬ 
stances  and  in  reference  to  the  same  points?  Would  he 
claim  less  for  his  church  than  I  have  claimed  for  mine? 
Would  he  concede  to  other  churches  more  than  I  have 
freely  conceded  to  all?  Have  I  not  assumed  them  to  be 
equally  honest  and  conscientious,  and  equally  entitled 
to  all  the  rights  and  privileges,  temporal  and  spiritual, 
which,  as  religious  associations,  they  may  lawfully  pos¬ 
sess  and  exercise  in  this  free  republic?  Am  I  expected 
to  express  a  preference  for  his  church,  or  for  any  church, 
over  my  own?  Will  he  not  be  satisfied  that  I  leave  him 
unmolested  to  think  as  highly  of  his  own  church,  and  as 
humbly  of  mine,  as  he  pleases? 


456  MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 

But  gladly  would  I  hail  the  dawn  of  a  brighter  day — 
of  a  purer  Christian  epoch — when  all  such  idle  questions, 
and  verbal  controversies,  and  family  quarrels,  and  jeal¬ 
ous  rivalries,  and  ambitious  aspirings,  shall  be  forgotten. 
When  celestial  charity  shall  pervade  the  hearts  and  the 
ranks  of  the  Christian  soldiery,  and  all  the  world  be 
constrained  to  exclaim:  66 Behold,  how  good  and  how 
pleasant  it  is  for  brethren  to  dwell  together  in  unity!” 
(Ps.  cxxxiii.  1.)  When  Christian  sects  will  strive,  not 
for  the  mastery  over  one  another,  but  for  the  mastery 
over  their  own  evil  tempers,  and  for  the  palm  of  glory 
in  self-devotion  to  the  common  cause  of  God  and  the 
Saviour ! 


THE  NECESSITY  OF  CIRCULATING  THE  BIBLE. 


[DAVIDSON  COUNTY,  TENNESSEE,  NOVEMBER  14,  1826.] 


THE  NECESSITY  OF  CIRCULATING 

THE  BIBLE.* 


At  tlie  anniversary  meetings  of  this  Society,  I  am 
informed,  an  address  is  expected  from  the  chair.  While, 
on  the  one  hand,  I  do  not  wish  to  depart  from  established 
usage,  so,  on  the  other,  I  am  desirous  to  appropriate  as 
little  of  the  time  devoted  to  the  exercises  of  this  evening 
as  Yvill  barely  satisfy  the  claims  of  official  duty. 

The  distinguished  and  eloquent  individuals  who  are 
expected  to  advocate  the  Bible  cause,  on  this  interesting 
occasion,  preclude,  not  only  the  necessity,  but  the  pro¬ 
priety,  of  my  entering  upon  the  merits  of  this  hallowed 
and  infinitely  momentous  theme.  I  shall,  therefore,  for 
the  few  moments  which  I  presume  to  occupy,  merely 
approach  the  threshold,  and  take  a  hasty  glance  at  the 
outworks — committing  your  introduction  into  the  inte¬ 
rior  of  the  celestial  temple  to  abler  and  more  experienced 
guides. 

The  oracles  of  the  one  living  and  true  God — composed 
at  different  and  distant  periods,  by  divers  men  inspired 
for  the  purpose — were,  during  a  period  of  fifteen  hundred 
years,  entrusted  exclusively  to  the  Israelites,  and  for 


*  An  Address  delivered  at  the  third  Anniversary  meeting  of  the 
Bible  Society  of  Davidson  County,  Tennessee,  auxiliary  to  the  Amer¬ 
ican  Bible  Society,  Nov.  14,  1826. 


(459) 


460  MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


their  sole  benefit.  When,  in  the  fulness  of  time,  the 
predicted  Messiah  appeared  and  put  an  end  to  the  Mo¬ 
saic  economy  and  to  the  whole  Jewish  ritual,  he  broke 
down  the  partition  wall  which  had  hitherto  surrounded 
the  favoured  nation,  and  commissioned  his  disciples  to 
preach  the  gospel  of  peace  and  mercy  and  reconciliation 
to  every  kindred,  tongue  and  people  upon  the  earth. 
This  constituted  a  new  and  glorious  era  in  the  history  of 
our  world.  The  apostles  obeyed  the  command  of  their 
Master.  They  traversed  the  most  distant  and  inhospit¬ 
able  regions:  and  literally  planted  the  standard  of  the 
cross  in  almost  every  country  of  the  known  world. 
Their  success,  though  astonishingly  great,  and  altogether 
unparalleled,  considering  their  natural  qualifications  and 
means,  was  but  partial  and  temporary.  For,  although  mul¬ 
titudes  in  Asia,  Europe  and  Africa,  believed — although 
flourishing  churches  were  everywhere  formed — although 
within  three  centuries  after  the  crucifixion,  idolatry  dis¬ 
appeared  from  the  Koman  Empire,  and  Christianity 
became  the  established  faith  of  the  civilized  world — yet 
it  soon  appeared  that  human  policy  and  imperial  smiles 
added  nothing  to  the  purity,  the  lustre  and  the  stability 
of  that  spiritual  kingdom  which  it  was  our  Saviour’s 
purpose  to  erect.  Ages  of  ignorance,  darkness,  supersti¬ 
tion,  tyranny  and  crime  succeeded  the  impious  union  of 
the  ecclesiastical  and  the  civil  powers.  The  Bible  was 
studiously  withheld  from  the  people.  It  was  locked  up, 
in  an  unknown  tongue,  in  the  cell  and  the  cloister.  It 
was  inaccessible  to  the  multitude.  It  was  criminal  for 
them  to  seek  it — it  was  a  capital  offence  to  read  it.  The 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  461 


terrors  of  the  stake,  the  rack,  the  inquisition,  were  all 
employed  to  extinguish  the  light  of  revelation.  And, 
had  it  been  possible  for  the  gates  of  hell  to  prevail 
against  the  truth — the  truth  had  long  since  been  obliter¬ 
ated  from  the  face  of  the  earth.  It  was  not  possible. 
All  this  antichristian  influence,  degeneracy,  and  abomi¬ 
nation  had  been  foretold.  Its  occurrence,  therefore, 
added  another  series  to  the  manifold  existing  evidences 
of  the  divine  original  of  our  holy  religion.  The  word 
of  Jehovah  had  been  pledged  that  the  gospel  of  his  Son 
should  prevail — and  finally  triumph  over  all  opposition. 

The  dawn  of  this  distant  day  of  victory  and  triumph 
at  length  appeared,  when  the  glorious  work  of  the  Re¬ 
formation  was  achieved :  and  many  fondly  imagined  that 
the  universal  reign  of  the  Prince  of  peace  was  about 
to  be  established  on  the  ruins  of  the  Papal  hierarchy. 
But  Protestant  Christendom  soon  exhibited  symptoms, 
not  to  be  mistaken,  that  the  ancient  leaven  of  unchari¬ 
tableness,  malice,  pride  and  ambition  was  still  fermenting 
within  her  bosom,  and  producing  the  same  bitter  fruits. 
Numerous  opposing  and  rival  sects  speedily  arose — and 
the  world  has  been  deluged  with  volumes  of  subtle  spec¬ 
ulations  and  rancorous  controversy.  Only  the  dawn  of 
the  bright  day  of  Messiah’s  triumph,  therefore,  has  as 
yet  become  visible.  The  gospel  has  ever  since,  indeed, 
been  gaining  ground — though  with  various  fortune,  at 
different  periods.  The  clergy  continued  to  preach,  and 
to  perform  their  arduous  functions  agreeably  to  the 
tenets  and  rules  of  their  respective  churches.  But 
there  existed  no  system  of  harmonious  co-operation — no 


462  MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


bond  of  union-— no  mutual  understandings — no  kindly 
feeling  among  the  brethren  of  different  names.  One  was 
of  Paul— another  of  Apollos— a  third  of  Cephas —  (1  Cor. 

i.  12.)  They  forgot  that  they  were  all  of  Christ.  They 
would  have  no  fellowship  with  each  other.  They  were 
like  a  house  divided  against  itself; — and  hence  were 
feeble  and  powerless  against  the  common  enemy.  They 
consumed  their  time  and  spent  their  strength  in  domes¬ 
tic  broils  and  contests — instead  of  generously  marshal¬ 
ling  their  forces  under  the  one  great  captain,  and  cour¬ 
ageously  taking  the  field,  determined,  in  the  name  of 
Jehovah,  to  conquer,  or  to  die  at  their  post. 

It  might  have  been  expected  that  Protestants,  who 
professed  the  greatest  reverence  for  the  Bible,  would  have 
spared  no  means  or  pains  to  extend  the  knowledge  and 
the  blessings  of  it  among  the  people.  Especially,  after 
the  invention  of  the  arts  of  printing  and  of  manufac- 
turing  paper  had  rendered  the  work  as  easy  as  it  was 
simple  and  obvious. 

Eighteen  centuries  however  had  rolled  away  since 
“ peace  on  earth  and  good  will  toward  men”  (Luke, 

ii.  14)  had  been  proclaimed  by  the  angelic  hosts  who 
celebrated  Messiah’s  advent,  before  it  ever  occurred  to 
Christian  men,  as  reasonable  and  feasible,  to  distribute 
the  entire  unadulterated  records  of  one  faith  to  the  igno¬ 
rant  and  the  perishing.  It  was  reserved  for  our  own  age 
and  century  to  make  this  grand  discovery — and  to  put 
into  operation  this  simple  but  all-powerful  machinery. 

Until  the  year  1804,  an  association  for  the  sole  pur¬ 
pose  of  distributing  the  Bible,  without  note  or  comment, 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


463 


to  all  the  people,  was  unheard  of.  Towards  the  close  of 
that  memorable  year  was  duly  organized  the  British  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society.  It  was  immediately  greeted  with 
the  approbation  and  good  wishes  of  thousands  of  Chris¬ 
tians  of  all  denominations.  It  bore,  as  it  were,  a  neutral 
flag — a  flag  of  peace — -of  Catholicism- — -of  charity  and 
love.  It  was  Christian  in  its  entire  character,  tendency 
and  bearing.  It  exhibited  the  insignia  of  no  party,  and 
favoured  the  views  and  dogmas  of  no  selfish,  ambitious, 
bigoted  or  exclusive  sect.  It  opened  a  field  of  active 
philanthropic  enterprise,  boundless  in  extent  and  in 
duration.  It  was  designed  and  calculated  to  concentrate 
the  energies  of  the  Christian  world  to  one  grand  and 
good  work.  It  was  the  first  step  towards  a  better  under¬ 
standing  among  brethren  of  the  same  family — towards  a 
better  temper  and  spirit — towards  nobler  and  more  gen¬ 
erous  efforts  in  promoting  the  common  cause  of  human 
happiness  throughout  the  world. 

Can  it  be  credited  that  such  a  project  should  have  been 
opposed  at  the  beginning  of  this  liberal  and  enlightened 
nineteenth  century?  Yes  verily,  it  was  opposed- — op¬ 
posed  most  fiercely  and  perse  veringly;  opposed  too  by 
men  who  ought  to  have  known  better — and  from  whom 
a  different  course  might  have  been  anticipated.  But,  in 
thus  encountering  opposition,  it  merely  shared  the  usual 
fortune  of  all  great,  beneficent  and  useful  plans  and  in¬ 
stitutions.  Every  man,  acquainted  with  the  history  of 
our  world,  knows  that  every  enterprise  undertaken  for 
the  welfare  of  mankind  has  been  opposed.  And  this 
opposition  is  generally  proportioned  to  the  excellence  of 


4G4 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


the  object  in  view.  There  are  always  men  at  hand 
ready  to  denounce,  to  misrepresent,  to  slander,  and  to 
thwart,  as  far  as  they  can,  whatever  is  virtuous,  benevo¬ 
lent  and  praiseworthy.  Many  regard  every  improve¬ 
ment  as  a  dangerous  innovation ;  they  fain  would 
travel  along  as  their  grandsires  had  done  before  them; 
they  are  jealous  of  all  reformers,  and  hostile  to  all 
changes.  With  such  men  it  is  vain  to  argue: — and 
happily  for  the  world,  their  complaints  and  murmurs, 
their  forebodings  and  predictions  have  little  influence  in 
impeding  or  retarding  the  march  of  human  intellect  and 
the  melioration  of  human  society.  Multitudes  oppose 
at  first  from  ignorance  and  prejudice;  but  a  successful 
experiment  usually  brings  them,  sooner  or  later,  to  a 
more  correct  judgment  and  temper.  Others  oppose  from 
sheer  malice— from  downright  wickedness ;  their  oppo¬ 
sition  is  deliberate  and  systematic;  and  never  ceases 
while  the  means  for  maintaining  it  exist. 

The  parent  Bible  Society  met  with  opposition  from  all 
these  sources:  nor  has  opposition  ceased  even  to  this 
day.  Still,  the  cause  has  continued  to  prosper,  and  to 
advance  far  beyond  the  hopes  and  anticipations  even  of 
the  most  sanguine.  Only  twenty-two  years  have  elapsed 
since  this  Society  commenced  its  operations.  During 
that  period,  it  has  aided,  directly  or  indirectly,  in  print¬ 
ing,  publishing,  circulating  or  translating  the  Bible,  in 
whole  or  in  part,  in  150  different  languages  and  dialects. 
It  has  issued  in  Great  Britain  and  on  the  Continent  of 
Europe,  not  less,  probably,  up  to  this  time,  than  six  mil¬ 
lions  of  copies  of  the  sacred  volume; — and,  by  societies 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  465 


in  connexion  with  it,  a  grand  total  of  at  least  nine  mil¬ 
lions  of  copies.  Its  annual  income  is  little  short  of  half 
a  million  of  dollars. 

The  first  Bible  Society  organized  in  America  was  that 
of  Philadelphia  in  1808, 4  (Dec.  11.)  The  American 
Bible  Society  was  instituted  in  May,  1816.  It  has  been 
in  operation  ten  years.  Its  present  yearly  income  is 
above  $50,000.  It  has  issued,  by  this  time,  probably 
about  500,000  Bibles  and  Testaments.  It  numbers 
already  among  its  auxiliaries  not  less  than  600  societies 
in  various  parts  of  the  Union. 

There  are,  it  is  believed,  from  1200  to  1500  Bible 
societies  in  the  world.  And  these  have  issued,  as  nearly 
as  we  can  estimate,  between  twelve  and  fifteen  millions 
of  Bibles  and  Testaments.  Further  details,  time  does 
not  permit  me  to  attempt.  And  these  are  not  given  as 
literally  accurate.  They  are  probably  only  approxima¬ 
tions  to  the  truth. 

The  objects  of  this  Society  are  twofold.  First,  to 
supply  our  own  domestic  wants — -to  furnish  every  indi¬ 
vidual,  at  least  every  family,  in  Davidson  County,  with 
a  Bible.  Has  this  primary  object  been  effected?  Have 
we  searched  out  the  nakedness  of  the  land — have  we 
ascertained  how  many  of  our  own  fellow-citizens— of  our 
neighbours,  friends  and  acquaintances  are  still  destitute 

i 

of  this  inestimable  treasure?  If  not — then  have  we 
hitherto  neglected  our  first  duty,  and  our  most  important 
duty.  Let  us  immediately  take  this  matter  into  our 
most  serious  consideration.  Let  us  resolve — as  did  the 
Bible  Society  of  Monroe  County  in  New  York,  in  refer- 


466 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


ence  to  the  inhabitants  of  that  county — let  us  resolve, 
that  every  family  in  Davidson  County  shall  be  supplied 
with  a  Bible.  When  we  have  discharged  our  obligations 
to  our  own  people — we  shall  be  prepared  to  attend  to 
the — 

Second  object  of  our  institution,  which  is, — To  aid  the 
American  Bible  Society,  to  which  we  are  auxiliary. 
This  may  be  done,  either  by  remitting  our  superfluous 
funds  to  the  parent  institution — or  by  distributing  Bibles 
in  the  adjacent  counties  or  States,  as  we  may  have  oppor¬ 
tunity,  and  as  their  several  necessities  may  render  it 
expedient. 

The  deep  interest  which  the  parent  Society  takes  in 
the  moral  welfare  of  the  Western  country,  may  be  esti¬ 
mated  from  the  following  paragraphs,  extracted  from  the 
ninth  report  of  their  Board  of  Managers,  (viz.  for 
1825.) 

“The  Managers  cannot  look  over  the  Western  States, 
so  vast  in  their  extent,  so  rapidly  increasing  in  popula¬ 
tion,  and  so  destitute  of  the  Bible,  without  painful  emo- 
tionsf  and  very  gloomy  forebodings.  Notwithstanding 
all  the  exertions  made  in  that  interesting  section  of  the 
country,  still  the  increase  of  population  is  far  greater 
than  the  increase  of  Bibles.” 

“Thus  a  famine  seems  to  have  already  commenced — 
not  of  bread ,  nor  of  water!  Such  a  famine  could  only 
kill  the  body : — but  a  famine  of  the  Bread  of  Life ,  which 
kills  the  soul — a  famine  deeply .  affecting  the  first  ele¬ 
ments  of  society  in  all  the  Western  States  and  Terri¬ 
tories.  Of  what  advantage  can  early  education  be  to 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


467 


them,  unsanctified  by  the  truth  of  God?  Of  what  ad¬ 
vantage  will  a  liberal  education  be,  if  unenlightened  by 
the  wisdom  of  God? — or  legislation ,  without  the  moral 
principles  of  God’s  revealed  will? — or  judicial  investiga¬ 
tions ,  without  the  righteousness  and  equity  of  the  Gospel? 
Without  the  Bible  they  cannot  know  the  will  of  God, 
nor  the  Son  of  God : — they  cannot  possess  either  holiness 
or  hope;  but  in  heart  and  in  habit  they  must  approxi¬ 
mate  rapidly  to  the  condition  of  the  frontier  tribes.” 

Whether  this  statement  be  literally  correct  or  not: — 
let  us,  at  least,  do  our  humble  part  towards  preventing 
the  dreadful  evils  anticipated.  Let  us  arise,  in  the  name 
of  the  Lord,  and  exert  our  energies  and  contribute  our 
money  in  behalf  of  our  Western  brethren  who  are  still 
sitting  “in  the  region  and  shadow  of  death.”  (Matt, 
iv.  16.) 

To  the  patriot  and  philanthropist  the  Bible  appeals 
for  patronage  and  support.  Can  any  friend  of  genuine 
liberty  be  hostile  to  the  Bible?  Let  him  cast  an  eye 
over  the  page  of  history,  from  the  creation  to  the  present 
day,  or  upon  the  map  of  our  globe,  and  search  for  the 
land  of  liberty.  Where  will  he  find  it?  When  did  it 
exist?  Nowhere — never — except  when  and  where  the 
Bible  was  known  and  honoured  by  the  people.  This 
position  I  maintain  fearlessly,  and  after  much  inquiry 
and  mature  deliberation.  Greece  and  Borne  will  be 
made  to  confront  me  at  the  outset.  I  am  prepared 
to  encounter  Greece  and  Rome,  with  all  their  boasted 
pretensions.  Liberty  was  never  understood  in  either 
Greece  or  Rome.  Republican  they  were  in  name; 


468  MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 

but  republican  they  never  were,  as  Americans  under¬ 
stand  the  term.  Liberty  they  idolized, — but  it  was  a 
phantom  to  fight  about,  rather  than  a  substantial  reality 
to  be  enjoyed.  The  great  moral  principle,  which  is  the 
basis  of  equal  rights  and  privileges,  was  never  recognized 
among  them.  There  was  ever  existing  in  those  turbu¬ 
lent  democracies  a  proud  domineering  aristocracy — op¬ 
posed  to  the  mass  of  the  people  —  and  seeking  every 
occasion  to  oppress  them. 

The  people — the  body  of  the  people— possessed,  in 
fact,  fewer  privileges  and  less  liberty,  than  they  now 
enjoy  under  the  most  absolute  monarchy  in  Chris¬ 
tendom. 

Any  person  intimately  acquainted  with  their  history, 
and  who  does  not  suffer  himself  to  be  imposed  on  by 
mere  names,  must  be  satisfied  that  such  was  the  fact. 
If  any  doubt  however — let  me  add,  that,  the  female  sex, 
among  those  free,  enlightened,  polished,  liberal  repub¬ 
licans,  were  in  a  state  of  degradation  and  bondage  not 
surpassed  in  any  Mohammedan  or  Pagan  country  at 
the  present  day.  This  fact  settles  the  question — uni¬ 
versally  and  forever.  For,  in  every  age  and  nation, 
where  the  Bible,  or  revealed  religion  has  been  unknown, 
or  is  now  unknown — woman  was  and  is  a  slave. 

In  Greece  and  Rome — whatever  may  be  affirmed  of 
the  political  or  civil  or  domestic  condition  of  the  men — 
it  is  certain  that  the  women — that  is,  one-half  of  the 
population  at  least,  were  strangers  to  the  benefits  and 
blessings  of  liberty. 

Among  the  Jews  —  under  a  peculiar  and  limited  dis- 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


4G9 


pensation,  woman  enjoyed  rights  and  privileges  never 
conceded  to  her  under  any  system  of  paganism  or  false 
religion  whatever.  But  it  was  reserved  for  the  gospel  of 
Christ  to  restore  the  female  sex  to  their  proper  rank  and 
dignity  in  society.  This  is  matter  of  fact — indisputable 
and  undisputed. 

Liberty — real  genuine  liberty — has  been  gaining 
ground  in  our  world  just  in  proportion  to  the  diffusion 
of  the  principles  of  the  gospel.  In  every  part  of  Chris¬ 
tendom  there  is  more  liberty  than  in  any  other  part  of 
the  world.  In  those  parts  of  Christendom  where  the 
people  are  most  acquainted  with  the  Bible,  there  is  more 
liberty  than  in  those  parts  where  it  is  less  or  least  known. 
In  Protestant  Europe,  where  the  Bible  is  accessible  to 
all,  there  is  vastly  more  liberty  than  where  the  people 
either  cannot,  or  are  not  suffered  to  read  the  Bible. 

It  would  be  well  for  the  friends  of  liberty  in  our 
country  to  examine  this  matter  thoroughly.  If  they 
discover,  as  I  am  sure  they  will,  that  the  Bible  is  always 
the  harbinger  of  liberty  to  the  suffering  and  the  op¬ 
pressed,  then  let  them  stand  forth  its  avowed  friends 
and  advocates. 

Our  pious  and  venerated  fathers,  two  centuries  ago, 
fled  from  a  tyranny  which  the  Bible  taught  them  to 
abhor.  They  crossed  the  ocean  with  the  Bible  in  their 
hands,  and  with  its  principles  engraven  upon  their 
hearts.  They  erected  the  standard  of  civil  and  religious 
liberty  in  the  forests  of  America.  The  Bible  was  their 
charter — their  guide — their  statute  book — their  code  of 
common  law.  Under  its  invigorating  influence,  succes- 


470 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


sive  generations  flourished  in  peace  and  freedom.  And 
when  the  first  insidious  attempts  were  made  to  limit 
their  privileges — to  encroach  on  their  liberties — they, 
with  one  mind,  and  with  the  Bible  still  in  their  hands, 
resolved  to  live  free  or  die. 

What  made  the  British  colonies  to  differ  so  essentially 
in  character  and  destiny  from  all  other  European  colo¬ 
nies?  I  answer,  the  Bible.  The  present  British  colo¬ 
nies  in  North  America  were  originally  French  colonies; 
and  hence,  at  the  period  of  our  revolution,  they  took  no 
part  with  us.  The  Bible  was  a  stranger  to  them — and 
they  were  strangers  to  liberty. 

I  have  addressed  an  argument  for  the  Bible  to  the 
friends  of  liberty;  grounded  upon  known  incontrovert¬ 
ible  facts:  and  if  they  will  not  yield  to  it,  or  manfully 
meet  it,  and  confute  it,  they  stand  self-convicted  of  in¬ 
consistency  and  insincerity.  If  I  am  correct  in  my  view 
of  the  subject,  I  am  justified  in  this  broad  and  sweeping 
conclusion — that,  every  opposer  of  the  Bible  is  an  enemy 
to  liberty,  and  of  course,  to  his  country  and  to  mankind. 
He  may  be  self-deceived — he  may  err  through  ignorance 
— still  he  is  an  enemy  to  liberty,  and  unworthy  of  the 
liberty  which  he  enjoys,  and  which  he  is  aiming  indi¬ 
rectly,  perhaps  unconsciously,  to  destroy. 

Our  appeal,  then,  to  the  patriotic  friends  of  liberty  in 
behalf  of  the  Bible  is  made  on  tenable  and  substantial 
grounds;  and  will  not,  we  trust,  be  made  in  vain. 

Shall  we  appeal,  in  the  next  place,  to  the  ladies — to 
our  mothers,  our  sisters,  our  wives,  our  daughters?  I 
have  already  suggested  a  consideration,  which,  to  them 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


471 


at  least,  must  appear  sufficiently  momentous  and  persua¬ 
sive.  Independently  of  the  Christian  religion,  they 
would  all  be  slaves— worse  than  slaves — the  slaves  of 
barbarians,  of  brutal  and  ferocious  masters.  The  cause 
is  gained.  My  fair  auditors  have  enlisted  under  the 
banners  of  the  cross.  They  will  all  become  active  and 
zealous  members  of  our  association. 

The  name  of  every  lady  in  this  house,  and  in  David¬ 
son  County,  will  be  added  to  our  catalogue,  and  thus, 
ten  thousand  dollars,  in  spite  of  the  lords  of  creation, 
will  find  their  way  into  the  Bible  treasury.  Should  any 
lady  refuse  to  contribute  a  dollar  per  year  to  promote 
the  temporal  and  eternal  welfare  of  three  hundred  mil¬ 
lions  of  her  sisters,  might  she  not,  with  justice,  be  re¬ 
garded  as  an  enemy  to  her  sex?  But  poverty,  ignorance, 
misery  have  never  yet  appealed  to  the  female  heart  or 
purse,  in  vain.  All  the  world  besides  may  frown,  and 
treat  the  wretched  applicant  with  contumely  and  scorn — • 
but  woman  will  sympathize,  pity  and  relieve.  She  ever 
mourns  with  those  that  mourn,  and  weeps  with  those 
that  weep. 

In  the  last  place,  we  appeal  to  Christians — whether 
real  or  nominal — of  every  age,  sect  and  denomination. 
Perhaps  you  are  all  included  under  this  head.  We  hope 
you  are.  Were  there  any  infidels  present,  I  would  not 
treat  them  harshly  or  uncourteously.  I  would  repeat 
to  them  a  well-known  anecdote,  from  high  authority, 
and  leave  the  application  to  their  own  sagacity. 

“Sir  Isaac  Newton  set  out  in  life  a  clamorous  infidel; 
but,  on  a  nice  examination  of  the  evidences  for  Chris- 


472 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


tianity,  he  found  reason  to  change  his  opinion.  When 
the  celebrated  Dr.  Edmund  Halley  was  talking  infidelity 
before  him — Sir  Isaac  addressed  him  in  these  or  the  like 
words.  ‘Dr.  Halley,  I  am  always  glad  to  hear  you 
when  you  speak  about  astronomy,  or  other  branches  of 
the  mathematics,  because  those  are  subjects  which  you 
have  studied,  and  well  understood;  but  you  should  not 
talk  of  Christianity,  for  you  have  not  studied  it.  I 
have,  and  I  am  certain  that  you  know  nothing  of  the 
matter.’  ” 

Why  men  should  be  hostile  to  the  Bible,  is  not  easy 
to  account  for,  except  on  the  ground  of  ignorance  or 
malignity.  The  pre-eminent  excellence  of  its  moral 
code,  I  believe,  has  never  been  questioned.  Even  the 
atheist  Vanini,  who  was  most  indefatigable  in  searching 
out  objections  against  Christianity,  owned  that  he  could 
find  nothing  in  it  that  savoured  of  a  carnal  and  worldly 
design. 

Bolingbroke  says — “No  religion  has  ever  appeared  in 
the  world,  of  which  the  natural  tendency  is  so  much 
directed  as  the  Christian,  to  promote  the  peace  and 
happiness  of  mankind;  and  the  gospel  is  one  continued 
lesson  of  the  strictest  morality,  of  justice,  charity  and 
universal  benevolence.” 

The  testimony  of  Gibbon  is  remarkable.  “  While  the 
Boman  Empire  (says  he)  was  invaded  by  open  violence, 
or  undermined  by  slow  decay,  a  pure  and  humble  reli¬ 
gion  gently  insinuated  itself  into  the  minds  of  men,  grew 
up  in  silence  and  obscurity,  derived  new  vigour  from 
opposition,  and  finally  erected  the  triumphant  banner  of 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


473 


the  cross  on  the  ruins  of  the  capitol.”  (Rom.  Hist.,  vol. 
i.  p.  392.) 

Again  he  adds — 

“The  Christian  religion  is  a  religion  which  diffuses 
among  the  people  a  pure,  benevolent,  and  universal 
system  of  ethics,  adapted  to  every  duty  and  every  condi¬ 
tion  of  life ;  recommended  as  the  will  and  reason  of  the 
Supreme  Deity,  and  enforced  by  the  sanction  of  eternal 
rewards  or  punishments.”  (Rom.  Hist.,  vol.  ii.  p.  200.) 

If  such  be  the  real  character  and  genuine  tendency  of 
the  gospel,  in  the  judgment  even  of  its  enemies,  who 
need  hesitate  about  giving  it  currency  among  the 
people  ?  So  far  as  this  world  is  in  question,  it  is  calcu¬ 
lated,  confessedly,  to  do  immense  good :  —  and  it  has 
never  been  pretended  that  it  would  prove  injurious  to 
our  future  hopes,  prospects  or  destination. 

To  appeal  to  Christians  in  behalf  of  the  Bible — and 
to  urge  reasons  and  motives  to  induce  them  to  aid  in  its 
circulation — would  seem  a  superfluous  task — were  not 
the  melancholy  fact  before  us,  that,  by  far  the  greater 
portion  of  the  human  family  are  still  destitute  of  this 
hallowed  treasure.  More  than  six  hundred  millions  of 
our  race  are  living  in  ignorance  and  misery — deprived  of 
the  heavenly  guide  to  purity  and  peace  and  happiness 
which  it  is  in  the  power  of  Christians,  and  of  Christians 
only,  to  communicate.  This  lamentable  and  alarming 
fact  is  enough  for  us  to  know.  Were  every  inhabitant 
of  these  United  States — were  every  individual  in  Chris¬ 
tendom  possessed  of  a  Bible — still,  six  hundred  millions 
of  our  brethren  remain  to  be  supplied  with  it  —  and 


474 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


these  are  daily  giving  place  to  other  and  to  successive 
millions. 

With  all  the  gigantic  efforts  made  and  making — the 
work  seems  scarcely  yet  to  diminish  in  magnitude.  Nay, 
the  more  we  search- — the  further  we  extend  our  vision — 
the  larger  appears  the  field  for  benevolent  and  vigorous 
enterprise.  The  vastness  of  the  object  to  be  achieved 
was  not  conceived  by  the  original  projectors  of  Bible 
Societies.  The  alarming  deficiency  of  Bibles,  in  the 
very  heart  and  centre  of  the  most  highly  favoured  por¬ 
tions  of  Protestant  Christendom,  was  never  conjectured 
or  suspected.  Every  report  of  almost  every  Bible 
Society  testifies,  that,  multitudes  of  families  and  indi¬ 
viduals  are  everywhere  to  be  met  with,  as  ignorant  of 
the  Bible  as  if  they  had  been  born  and  educated  in  a 
heathen  land.  Can  Christians  continue  lukewarm  or 
inactive  in  the  midst  of  this  moral  gloom  and  darkness 
and  death  and  despair?  Can  they  pray  to  the  great 
Head  of  the  Church,  from  day  to  day, — “thy  kingdom 
come” — and  yet  refuse  to  contribute  an  effort  or  a  dollar 
towards  its  enlargement? 

If  the  Bible  really  contains  the  best  religion — the  only 
religion  worthy  of  universal  acceptation  —  a  religion 
manifestly  emanating  from  eternal  and  infinite  wisdom 
— our  duty  to  aid  in  its  propagation  becomes  too  obvious 
and  imperative  to  demand  proof  or  illustration.  This 
duty  constitutes  a  part  of  the  religion  itself — it  is  incul¬ 
cated  throughout  the  volume  which  unfolds  it.  Admit 
the  truth  of  the  Bible  —  and  the  duty  to  extend  its 
blessings  to  all  men  follows  of  necessity.  Otherwise, 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


475 


we  reject  a  most  important  part  of  the  system  which 
we  acknowledge  to  be  of  divine  authority.  This  argu¬ 
ment  is  brief — but  it  is  conclusive. 

No  man  was  ever  impoverished  by  giving,  in  the 
spirit  of  charity,  to  charitable  objects.  This  is  a  re¬ 
markable  fact  in  the  history  of  benevolence,  and  in  the 
history  of  our  world. 

Who  is  it  that  murmurs  or  complains  at  the  frequent 
calls  made  on  him,  at  the  present  day,  for  aid  to  useful, 
humane  and  religious  objects  and  institutions  ?  Precisely 
the  man  who  never  contributes  a  dollar  to  one  of  them. 

The  avaricious,  selfish,  miserly  idolaters  of  Mammon, 
who  hoard  up  gold,  as  if  they  expected  to  carry  it  to 
heaven  with  them,  or  to  create  a  heaven  out  of  it 
upon  earth;  the  dashing,  expensive,  prodigal  votaries  of 
fashion,  luxury,  pleasure,  ostentation,  who  covet  all  they 
can  grasp,  in  order  to  maintain  a  style  of  extravagance 
or  indulgence  which  is  neither  comfortable  nor  respect¬ 
able, — these  are  the  men  who  denounce  all  liberal  pro¬ 
jects  and  Christian  enterprises  as  impositions  on  the 
public,  and  endeavour  to  cry  them  down  as  the  offspring 
of  knavery,  hypocrisy,  puritanism  or  priestcraft.  From 
such  men,  the  Bible  cause  expects  nothing— asks  no¬ 
thing.  Let  them  keep  their  money— they  will  be  the 
poorer  for  it.  Or  let  them  squander  it  upon  their  vices 
and  follies — they  will  never  enjoy  it. 

While  the  liberal  man  will  become  the  richer  and  the 
happier  for  all  that  he  bestows  in  charity.  If  universal 
experience  establishes  any  one  maxim  or  principle  of 
human  conduct  more  clearly  than  another,  it  is  this. 


476 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


And  that  it  accords  with  the  declarations  of  eternal 
truth  and  wisdom,  every  reader  of  the  Bible  knows  full 
well.  “The  liberal  deviseth  liberal  things;  and  by  lib¬ 
eral  things  shall  he  stand.”  (Isaiah,  xxxii.  8.)  “There 
is  that  scattereth,  and  yet  increaseth;  and  there  is  that 
withholdeth  more  than  is  meet,  but  it  tendeth  to 
poverty.  The  liberal  soul  shall  be  made  fat;  and  he 
that  watereth  shall  be  watered  also  himself.”  “  It  is 
more  blessed  to  give  than  to  receive.”  (Acts,  xx.  35.) 
It  is  your  distinguished  privilege,  Christian  brethren,  to 
realize,  this  evening,  the  promised  blessing  of  the 
Almighty  Saviour,  by  fulfilling  his  command. 


THE  CLAIMS  OF  THE  BIBLE. 


[DAVIDSON  COUNTY,  TENNESSEE,  OCTOBER,  1830. J 


I 


( 


THE  CLAIMS  OF  THE  BIBLE. 


AN  ADDRESS  BEFORE  THE  BIBLE  SOCIETY.* 


Christian  charity  is,  we  trust,  beginning  to  develop© 
her  genuine  character  throughout  the  Christian  world. 
Christian  people  are  beginning  to  feel  and  to  acknowl¬ 
edge  that  the  Saviour’s  valedictory  command — “Go  ye 
into  all  the  world,  and  preach  the  gospel  to  every  crea¬ 
ture,”  (Mark,  xvi.  15) — is  addressed  to  them — collect¬ 
ively  and  individually;  and  that  a  dreadful  wo  is 
denounced  against  those  who  slight  or  seek  to  evade  it. 
It  is  impossible  to  retain  the  blessings  of  the  gospel  in 
any  community,  large  or  small,  where  no  active  and 
faithful  efforts  are  made  to  impart  the  same  blessings 
to  others.  The  gospel  cannot  be  monopolized  or  hid 
in  a  corner :  and  those  who  hazard  the  profane  and 
impotent  attempt,  are  sure,  in  the  end,  to  lose  them¬ 
selves  what  they  so  covetously  withhold.  The  very 
spirit  of  the  gospel  impels  its  friends  to  communicate 
it  to  the  ignorant  and  the  needy,  to  the  labouring  and 
heavy  laden,  to  the  guilty  and  the  perishing.  They 
cannot  do  otherwise,  without  giving  infallible  evidence 
that  they  are  but  enemies  in  disguise.  “Freely  ye  have 

*  Delivered  at  the  Anniversary  Meeting  of  the  Davidson  County 
Bible  Society,  October,  1830. 


(479) 


480  MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


received,  freely  give,”  (Matt.  x.  8,)  is  inscribed  in  golden 
capitals,  upon  every  page  of  the  Christian  charter.  To 
believe  the  gospel,  and  yet  to  be  indifferent,  or  backward, 
or  slothful  in  recommending  it,  and  in  furnishing  it  to 
the  destitute,  according  to  our  ability,  involves  a  palpable 
contradiction;  and  if  any  one  lesson,  more  distinctly  than 
another,  can  be  learned  from  the  history  of  the  church 
and  of  mankind,  it  is  this  —  namely,  that  those  who 
neglect  the  duty  of  teaching  and  extending,  as  far  as 
practicable,  the  true  religion ,  do  invariably  incur  the 
severest  frowns  of  Heaven,  and  involve  their  posterity 
in  the  most  awful  calamities — including  always  either 
the  utter  forfeiture,  or  the  most  deplorable  perversion, 
of  the  truth  itself. 

The  command  then  has  gone  forth — “  Preach  the  gos¬ 
pel  to  every  creature.”  This  command  is  binding  on  all 
those  who  already  enjoy  the  light  and  blessings  of  the 
gospel.  It  is  their  duty  to  send  it  where  it  is  not.  It  is 
our  duty  to  do  this;  and  this  is  precisely  the  object  of 
our  present  meeting.  It  is  to  contribute  a  reasonable 
portion  of  our  superfluous  or  useless  dollars  to  aid  in  cir¬ 
culating  the  Holy  Scriptures  among  our  ignorant,  guilty, 
perishing  fellow-men — not  merely  as  a  matter  of  grace 
and  favour  on  our  part — but  as  an  imperative  duty  and 
a  high  privilege. 

If  the  Bible  be  the  word  of  God — if  its  pages  speak 
truth — then  there  is  an  end  of  all  cavilling,  or  doubt,  or 
hesitation.  The  course  of  duty  is  obvious,  plain,  direct, 
straightforward — and  cannot  be  mistaken. 

But  admitting  the  truth  and  inspiration  of  the  Bible, 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  481 


do  you  ask  what  special  benefits  it  confers  on  the  world 
— or  why  you  should  be  urged  to  aid  in  sending  it  to  the 
destitute? 

I  shall  not  attempt  to  point  out  all  the  benefits  which 
the  Bible  has  conferred  upon  our  world,  or  which  it  is 
calculated  to  bestow.  It  would  be  impracticable  to  do 
this,  within  the  limits  of  an  ordinary  address,  even  were 
I  competent  to  the  task.  To  candid  well-informed  men, 
who  have  carefully  studied  the  history  of  mankind,  no¬ 
thing  need  be  urged  in  the  way  of  contrast  between  the 
general  character  and  condition  of  Heathen  and  Chris¬ 
tian  nations.  The  distance  of  the  one  from  the  other, 
in  a  political,  civil,  religious  and  social  point  of  view,  is 
so  immense,  that  no  representation  of  ours  could  render 
it  more  obvious  or  more  striking.  It  is  as  the  cheering 
light  of  perpetual  day  opposed  to  the  gloom  and  horror 
of  endless  night. 

But  all  Christendom  is  not  Christian.  Only  a  small 
number  of  any  Christian  land  live  and  act  up  to  the 
standard  of  Bible  principles :  while  the  great  mass  of 
nominal  Christians  are  still  strangers  to  its  purifying 
and  transforming  influence.  We  must  therefore  recur 
to  the  sacred  volume  itself,  to  ascertain  the  genuine 
nature  and  tendency  of  its  doctrines  and  precepts :  and 
how  these  ought  to  operate  on  the  life  and  practice  of 
men.  The  question  is  not,  what  men,  calling  them¬ 
selves  Christians  and  professing  to  believe  the  Bible, 
actually  are;  but  what  they  ought  to  be,  and  would  be, 
were  they  sincere  in  their  professions.  A  Judas  was 

found  even  in  the  original  little  band  of  our  Lord’s 

vol.  hi. — 31 


482 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


apparently  devoted  and  disinterested  disciples,  when 
scarcely  a  motive  for  hypocrisy  or  treachery  could  have 
been  imagined.  That  the  tires  of  persecution  were  not 
sufficient,  even  in  the  apostolic  age,  to  repress  that  spirit 
of  worldly  avarice  and  ambition  which  is  so  natural  to 
mankind,  the  cases  of  Ananias  and  Sapphira,  of  Simon 
Magus  and  many  others,  will  abundantly  testify.  How 
much  more  then  may  we  expect  hypocrites  and  knaves 
in  the  bosom  of  the  Christian  Church,  when  so  many 
sinister  ends  may  be  compassed  by  the  mere  assumption 
of  the  Christian  name?  But  does  the  Bible  countenance 
hypocrisy  or  fraud  or  deception  in  any  form  ?  Does 
the  Bible  sanction  false,  empty,  vain,  selfish,  ostenta¬ 
tious  parade  or  profession  of  religion  in  any  degree  ? 
If  not,  then  the  Bible  is  not  chargeable  with  the  errors 
or  crimes  or  delusions  of  any  of  its  pretended  friends. 
Are  Christians  irascible,  revengeful,  implacable,  illiberal, 
intolerant,  avaricious,  proud,  vain-glorious,  ambitious,  en¬ 
vious,  cruel,  haughty,  overbearing,  unjust,  sensual,  luxu¬ 
rious?  Does  the  Bible  inculcate  or  permit,  or  in  airy  wise 
excuse  or  justify  anger,  revenge,  unkindness,  intolerance, 
covetousness,  pride,  envy,  ambition,  cruelty,  injustice,  sen¬ 
suality,  or  any  unhallowed  passion  or  practice? 

But  what  does  the  Bible  reveal  and  teach?  It  reveals 
the  whole  truth  concerning  the  origin,  character,  condi¬ 
tion  and  destiny  of  man;  and  the  whole  truth,  so  far  as 
is  adapted  to  mortal  capacity,  respecting  the  glorious  per¬ 
fections,  laws  and  purposes  of  the  one  living  and  true 
God.  It  teaches  man  how  to  become  holy  and  happy — 
how  to  escape  deserved  punishment — how  to  conquer  sin 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


483 


and  death  and  hell — how  to  triumph  over  all  the  enemies 
of  his  peace — and  how  to  enter  the  gates  of  the  New 
Jerusalem  with  songs  of  victory  upon  his  lips  and  the 
joys  of  salvation  in  his  heart.  All  this  the  Bible  has 
done,  is  doing,  and  will  do,  to  the  end  of  time.  It  is 
specially  calculated— purposely  designed — to  make  men 
better,  wiser  and  happier,  than  they  could  otherwise  pos¬ 
sibly  become.  Were  it  perfectly  obeyed  by  all  mankind, 
our  world  would  be  a  universal  Eden  — a  paradise  of 
angels:— and  peace,  purity  and  happiness  would  be  the 
inheritance  of  every  individual  of  our  race. 

If  the  Bible  should  have  free  course  and  be  duly  hon¬ 
oured,  the  great  work  of  improvement  and  reformation — 
the  plans  and  systems  for  ameliorating  the  moral,  intel¬ 
lectual  and  physical  condition  of  the  people,  about  which 
statesmen  and  philanthropists  are  so  much  busied  at  the 
present  day,  would  be  speedily  brought  to  a  successful 
issue.  We  should  hear  no  more  of  prisons,  and  jails,  and 
penitentiaries,  and  houses  of  refuge  and  correction;  or 
of  any  other  clumsy  contrivances  for  the  punishment  of 
crime  or  the  suppression  of  vice.  Nor  should  we  hear 
of  any  visionary  schemes  for  the  reformation  of  hardened 
veteran  offenders,  which  oppress  an  innocent  community 
by  their  enormous  expensiveness,  without  the  slightest 
tendency  to  benefit  the  criminal, — for  no  unprincipled 
convict  was  ever  yet  reformed  by  any  course  of  prison 
discipline  which  has  hitherto  been  devised ;  nor  will 
such  a  result  ever  be  witnessed  while  human  nature 
remains  unchanged.  The  Bible — the  religion  of  the 
Bible — has,  indeed,  transformed  a  thief  upon  the  cross, 


484 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


and  it  has  reclaimed  the  tenant  of  a  dungeon;  and  the 
same  heavenly  religion  might  have  prevented  the  igno¬ 
minious  death  of  the  one  and  the  incarceration  of  the 
other.  The  Bible  is  the  only  effective  instrument  of 
radical  reformation  in  prisons — as  all  the  superintend¬ 
ents  even  of  the  most  highly  approved  Eastern  peniten¬ 
tiaries,  of  the  newest  construction,  will  testify,  and  have 
testified.  How  much  easier  and  more  humane  would  it 
not  be  to  imbue  the  youthful  mind  with  Bible  principles, 
and  thus  save  the  rising  generation  from  crime- — from 
servitude — from  stripes — from  the  severest  corporal  and 
mental  agonies— as  well  as  from  the  indelible  disgrace 
of  imprisonment? 

“  Train  up  a  child  in  the  way  he  should  go,  and  when 
he  is  old  he  will  not  depart  from  it.”  Here  is  a  divine 
command,  and  a  divine  promise, — constituting  a  part  of 
that  heavenly  truth  which  we  are  required  to  dissemi¬ 
nate  among  all  people.  Train  up  a  child  in  the  way  he 
should  go — that  is,  in  the  right  way — in  wisdom’s  ways 
— in  the  way  of  truth  and  righteousness: — do  this  hon¬ 
estly,  faithfully,  prayerfully,  perseveringly — and  Jehovah 
has  declared,  that  he  will  not  depart  from  it  when  he  is 
old — or  that  his  riper,  maturer  years,  and  old  age  will 
be  spent  aright,  or  in  obedience  to  the  divine  will.  The 
command  and  the  promise  are  universal  and  absolute: 
and  the  world  cannot  exhibit  one  instance  of  a  failure. 
What  a  lesson  is  here  for  parents  to  learn!  What  a  debt 
do  they  not  owe  their  precious  charge !  The  present  and 
the  everlasting  welfare  of  their  offspring  depends  on  their 
fidelity.  But,  without  the  Bible,  they  can  neither  per- 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  485 


form  nor  understand  their  duty,  in  this  or  in  any  other 
respect.  It  is  not  for  us  to  speculate  about  the  proba¬ 
bilities  or  chances  of  eventual  success,  even  should  the 
Bible  be  placed  in  every  family  in  our  land  or  in  the 
world.  It  is  sufficient  for  us  to  know  that  those  who 
have  not  the  Bible  cannot  possibly  train  up  their  chil¬ 
dren  in  the  right  way,  or  pursue  the  right  way  them¬ 
selves.  They  must  live  in  darkness,  error,  ignorance 
and  vice — and  thus  must  live  their  children,  and  their 
children’s  children — until  some  future  more  generous 
and  more  charitable  generation  shall  supply  them  with 
the  word  of  life. 

How  vain  and  impotent  and  visionary  would  be  all 
human  schemes  and  laws  in  restraining  the  wicked  pas¬ 
sions  and  propensities  of  mankind,  were  the  fears  and 
sanctions,  the  rewards  and  penalties  of  religion  banished 
or  obliterated  from  our  country?  In  what  nation  upon 
earth  have  merely  human  institutions  sufficed  to  main¬ 
tain  a  peaceful,  orderly,  tranquil  state  of  society,  inde¬ 
pendently  of  the  aid  of  religion?  What  could  our  own 
much  lauded  and  most  Christian  system  of  jurisprudence 
- — our  common  and  statute  law — our  excellent  consti¬ 
tutions — our  legislative  assemblies- — our  juridical  and 
executive  authorities — effect  for  the  peace,  virtue,  pros¬ 
perity  and  happiness  of  this  people,  were  the  Bible  forth¬ 
with  annihilated,  or  were  its  doctrines  and  principles 
universally  disregarded — were  its  moral  and  religious 
influence  no  longer  felt  throughout  the  community? 

The  firm  popular  belief  in  the  one  scriptural  doctrine 
of  a  future  state  of  rewards  and  punishment,  is  more 


486  MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


potent  and  operative  in  deterring  the  million  from  vice 
and  crime,  I  venture  to  assert,  than  all  earthly  wisdom, 
power  and  vigilance  ever  yet  exerted  by  any  govern¬ 
ment. 

Besides,  human  laws,  at  the  very  utmost,  can  reach 
but  a  little  way  in  controlling  and  regulating  the  intri¬ 
cate  and  complex  machinery  of  human  interest,  reason, 
passion,  prejudice  and  ambition.  They  can  touch  only 
the  overt  act  of  the  offender;  and  that  too  only  when 
duly  proved  by  competent  witnesses  before  a  court  or 
jury  of  fallible,  perhaps  of  partial,  or  ignorant,  or  preju¬ 
diced,  or  unjust  men.  The  thief,  the  robber,  the  mur¬ 
derer,  may,  under  certain  circumstances,  be  legally  pun¬ 
ished.  But  still,  thousands  who  are  thieves,  robbers 
and  murderers  in  the  sight  of  God,  and  agreeably  to 
the  Bible,  may  and  do,  even  now,  escape  every  human 
penalty.  What  then  would  be  the  condition  of  society, 
if  our  whole  population  dreaded  nothing  but  a  human 
or  temporal  penalty?  So  numerous  are  the  facilities  or 
expedients  by  which  punishment  may  be  evaded,  that 
the  wonder  is,  that  any  should  be  so  incautious  or  so 
unfortunate  as  to  become  its  victims,  by  being  detected 
in  the  critical  predicament  which  technical  precision 
requires  in  order  to  conviction.  Hence,  in  fact,  only 
the  most  ignorant  and  least  artful  malefactors  are  ordi¬ 
narily  made  to  atone  by  personal  suffering  for  their 
offences: — while  your  more  intelligent  and  more  astute 
rogues  contrive  to  pass  along,  without  even  rendering 
themselves  obnoxious  to  any  disgraceful  or  onerous  pen¬ 
alty  whatever.  It  is  not  difficult  for  a  crafty  knave  so 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


487 


to  act  liis  part  as  to  be  accounted  an  honest  man.  He 
will  take  a  slight  advantage  in  his  pecuniary  transac¬ 
tions — in  his  sales  and  purchases — of  this  man  and  the 
other  man — and  thus  be  continually  accumulating  un¬ 
righteous  gains — while  yet  he  violates  no  human  law  in 
such  a  manner  as  to  be  liable  to  prosecution : — and  per¬ 
haps  none  will  dare  openly  to  accuse  or  censure  him. 
Whereas,  the  man  who  fears  God  and  reveres  his  law 
would  no  sooner  take  a  dollar  unjustly,  under  any  pre¬ 
text,  from  any  mortal,  than  he  would  steal  a  dollar  from 
his  neighbour’s  purse  or  pick  his  pocket. 

It  is  universally  admitted  by  moralists,  civilians  and 
jurists,  that,  only  perfect  rights,  as  they  are  technically 
styled,  can  be  asserted  and  protected  by  human  govern¬ 
ment — and  these  only  to  a  limited  extent  and  in  a  par¬ 
tial  manner;  while  imperfect  rights  and  their  correspond¬ 
ing  imperfect  obligations  rest  for  their  acknowledgment 
and  fulfilment  exclusively  upon  the  conscience  or  moral 
sense  of  every  individual ;  and  these  include  all  the 
duties  which  we  owe  to  God,  and  by  far  the  greater 
number  and  the  most  important  of  those  which  we  owe 
to  ourselves  and  to  one  another. 

Human  laws  are  defective  because  they  cannot  reach 
the  heart,  which  is  the  fountain  of  all  that  is  evil  and  of 
all  that  is  good  in  human  action.  They  cannot  create 
or  influence  motive,  or  inspire  virtuous  principles.  They 
do  not  extend  to  that  odious  catalogue  of  secret  crimes 
which  are  committed  without  any  witness,  save  the  all- 
seeing  eye  of  the  omnipresent  God :  whose  laws  penetrate 
the  hidden  recesses  of  vice,  and  carry  their  sanctions  to 


488 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


the  thoughts  and  intents  of  the  heart.  Now,  it  will  be 
conceded,  that  if  a  man’s  heart — if  all  his  affections,  de¬ 
sires,  motives,  principles,  purposes  and  aims,  be  pure  and 
holy,  then  will  his  conduct  be  right.  Here,  then,  the 
essential,  and  otherwise  incurable  deficiencies  of  human 
laws  are  supplied  by  the  doctrines  of  the  Bible,  which 
lend  a  constant  and  energetic  aid  to  the  administration 
of  justice.  The  sacred  Scriptures  command  the  utmost 
purity  of  heart  and  life.  They  strike  at  the  root  of  all 
sin,  by  removing  every  inducement  to  its  commission. 
They  teach  that  mere  external  acts,  however  specious 
and  commendable  in  the  sight  of  men,  will  not  insure 
the  divine  favour,  unless  they  spring  from  holiness  of 
heart.  They  moreover  disclose  the  alarming  fact,  suffi¬ 
ciently  obvious  indeed  to  the  eye  of  natural  reason,  but 
which  natural  reason  is  ever  loth  to  admit,  that  the  heart 
is  deceitful  above  all  things  and  desperately  wicked. — 
“That  the  carnal  mind  is  enmity  against  God — is  not 
subject  to  the  law  of  God — neither  indeed  can  be.”  (Rom. 
viii.  7.)  They  therefore  inculcate  the  absolute  necessity 
of  a  great  radical  revolution  in  our  whole  moral  charac¬ 
ter,  in  order  to  desire,  and  approve,  and  relish,  and  love 
the  purity  and  righteousness  and  excellence  of  the  divine 
law,  government,  attributes  and  dispensations.  And  they 
conduct  us  to  the  altar  of  sacrifice,  where  an  all-sufficient 
atonement  has  been  made  to  satisfy  the  claims  of  justice 
forever — to  the  bleeding  victim  upon  Calvary — to  the 
Lamb  of  God  which  taketh  away  the  sin  of  the  world. 
At  the  outset,  then,  the  Bible  provides  richly  and  com¬ 
pletely  for  the  fallen,  sinful,  desperate  and  helpless  con- 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  489 


dition  of  man — and  thus  qualifies  him  for  a  life  of  faith, 
obedience  and  moral  purity. 

The  Bible  also  teaches  the  soundest  principles  of  civil 
liberty.  The  rights  of  man  were  never  understood  by 
any  pagan  nation.  Greece  and  Borne  were,  at  best,  but 
turbulent  aristocracies.  Beal  liberty  was  never  known 
among  them.  Acts  of  oppression,  cruelty  and  injustice 
are  recorded  in  every  page  of  their  brilliant  and  capti¬ 
vating  history.  They  were  never  governed  by  law  and 
principle.  The  first  grand  charter  of  human  rights  and 
privileges  and  genuine  freedom  with  which  our  world 
has  been  favoured,  was  the  New  Testament.  It  contains 
indeed  no  elaborate  discussions  about  the  several  forms 
of  government;  nor  does  it  say  a  word  about  monarchy, 
or  despotism,  or  oligarchy,  or  democracy.  It  interferes 
not  directly  with  any  existing  government;  but  it  every¬ 
where  inculcates  such  doctrines  as  tend  inevitably  to 
banish  every  species  of  tyranny  and  oppression  from 
the  face  of  the  earth.  Such  doctrines  as  will,  if  duly 
regarded,  insure  to  all  the  people,  whether  of  a  mon¬ 
archy  or  republic,  equity,  peace,  protection  and  every 
lawful  privilege  and  enjoyment. 

The  Bible  moreover  imparts  consolation  to  the  afflicted, 
bereaved,  mourning,  indigent,  deserted  and  friendless. 
Alas!  how  many  of  these  abound  in  our  wretched  un¬ 
charitable  world!  Misery,  in  some  form,  is  the  natural 
and  inevitable  lot  of  a  great  proportion  of  our  guilty 
race.  Whither  shall  the  oppressed,  the  persecuted,  the 
destitute,  the  sorrowful,  llee  for  refuge,  but  to  the  bosom 
of  a  merciful  and  gracious  Bedeemer;  —  and  where  can 


490  MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 

they  learn  the  way  to  this  divine  and  all-sufficient 
Deliverer,  Protector  and  Friend,  but  in  the  Bible? 

The  Bible  exalts  the  female  sex  to  their  proper  rank 
in  society.  How  much  does  not  woman  owe  to  the  gos¬ 
pel  of  Jesus?  Is  it  possible  that  she  should  be  an  infidel 
—an  enemy  to  that  revelation  which  has  ennobled  her 
existence,  and  raised  her  from  slavery  and  degradation 
to  an  equality  with  the  proud  lords  of  creation? — which 
has  made  her  the  friend  and  companion  of  the  good  and 
the  wise  among  all  intelligent  and  consistent  believers? 
For  it  is  only  among  these,  that  her  rights,  even  in  this 
enlightened  and  liberal  age,  are  fully  recognized,  and  her 
character  fairly  appreciated.  No  human  laws,  in  any 
country,  have,  as  yet,  afforded  her  adequate  security 
against  the  violence,  and  the  arts,  and  the  injuries  of 
man.  The  laws  of  honour  do  not  protect  her  from  the 
grossest  wrongs.  Towards  her,  every  unchristian  man 
may  enact  a  tyrant’s  part,  without  fear  of  legal  penalty, 
or  check,  or  rebuke.  She  is  liable,  especially  if  poor, 
dependent  and  friendless,  to  become  the  victim  of  fash¬ 
ionable,  wealthy,  powerful,  titled,  profligate  man  in  every 
Christian  land;- — while  her  reckless  destroyer  may  tri¬ 
umph,  and  prosper,  and  be  caressed  by  his  equals  in  rank 
as  a  meritorious  and  fortunate  individual.  To  the  salu¬ 
tary,  restraining,  purifying  influence  of  the  gospel  is  she 
exclusively  indebted  for  that  measure  of  justice,  kindness 
and  consideration  which  is  so  generally  conceded  to  her 
in  Christian  society :  but  which  is  manifested  uniformly, 
and  from  principle,  and  to  the  full  extent  of  her  just 
claims,  only  by  Christian  men.  Let  woman  show  her 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


491 


gratitude  by  her  works.  Let  her  manifest  her  regard 
for  the  Bible — for  the  gospel  of  blessings  to  her  sex — by 
sending  it  to  soothe  and  elevate  her  sisters  throughout 
an  ignorant  and  oppressive  world. 

The  Bible — should  it  ever  have  free  course  and  be 
glorified— will  put  an  end  to  war,  to  ambition,  to  intem¬ 
perance,  to  duelling,  to  murder,  to  robbery,  to  injustice, 
to  all  angry  and  malevolent  passions,  to  prejudice  and 
all  uncharitableness,  to  gambling,  and  to  every  human 
folly,  extravagance  and  vice.  It  will  prove  the  cheapest 
possible  remedy  for  all  the  ills  which  flesh  is  heir  to. 

Loud  and  angry  have  been  the  complaints  against 
Bible  and  other  benevolent  associations,  on  the  score 
of  their  expensiveness — uttered  too  by  men  who  never 
contribute  a  dollar  to  one  of  them.  Common  decency 
ought  to  constrain  such  officious  economists  to  hold  their 
peace,  or  to  substantiate  their  charges.  But  the  modest 
gentlemen  who  murmur  at  this  expense,  without  ever 
feeling  it,  seem  never  to  advert  to  the  profit  side  of  the 
question — to  the  expenses  which  the  Bible  will  prevent, 
and  to  the  clear  gains  which  it  will  insure.  The  single 
vice  of  intemperance  costs  this  nation  more,  in  five  years, 
than  would  be  required  to  send  the  Bible  to  every  family 
in  the  world.  It  levies,  directly  or  indirectly,  an  annual 
tax  upon  our  people  of  $120,000,000.  And  pray,  worthy 
gentlemen,  what  good  does  intemperance  achieve?  Would 
it  not  be  better,  on  the  whole,  to  purchase  Bibles  and 
give  them  away,  than  to  buy  whisky  and  get  drunk? 
This  is  only  one  item.  Tell  us,  if  you  can,  the  annual 
expense  of  gambling,  of  horse-racing,  of  the  pauperism 


492 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


and  disease  occasioned  by  vice — of  fashionable  and  vul¬ 
gar  follies  in  a  thousand  forms — of  the  militia  system — 
of  jails  and  prisons  and  the  whole  array  of  criminal  law 
and  justice — and  your  arithmetic  will  be  exhausted  in 
the  enumeration  of  the  hundreds  of  millions  now  thrown 
away  to  encourage,  to  pamper,  to  restrain,  and  to  punish 
the  wicked  propensities  of  our  citizens:  —  all  of  which 
will  disappear  whenever,  and  wherever,  the  Bible  shall 
reign  in  all  its  celestial  energy  and  glory.  How  cheap  a 
remedy  then  is  within  our  reach. 

Finally — the  Bible,  when  thoroughly  studied  and 
obeyed,  will  make  honest  men  of  priests,  lawyers,  editors 
and  politicians:  who  have  hitherto  contrived  to  hold  in 
bondage  the  great  mass  of  the  people;  or  it  will  enable 
the  people  to,  effectuate  their  own  emancipation.  It  will 
put  down  the  despotism  of  priestcraft,  and  the  priestcraft 
of  despotism;  will  subdue  or  exterminate  that  antichris- 
tian  spirit  of  intolerant  exclusiveness  and  persecuting 
bigotry  which  still  lurks  in  the  strongholds  of  every 
Christian  church,  and  which  sways  the  temper  and  con¬ 
duct  of  a  large  majority  of  every  Christian  denomination. 
It  will  prevent,  in  our  country,  that  unhallowed  union 
of  Church  and  State,  which  is  so  much  dreaded  just  now, 
and  which  is  undoubtedly  aimed  at,  not  by  the  genuine 
followers  of  Christ,  but  by  crafty  infidels,  wily  politicians 
and  ambitious  sectaries — by  the  very  parties  who  have 
raised  the  fiercest  clamour  and  preferred  the  heaviest 
charges  against  the  friends  and  distributers  of  the  Bible. 

The  Christian  religion,  as  instituted  by  Christ  and  as 
exhibited  in  the  New  Testament,  is  the  only  religion 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


493 


under  heaven  which  never  courted  a  State  alliance  — 
which  never  sought  countenance  or  support  from  the 
civil  authorities,  by  any  species  of  cringing,  selfish,  time¬ 
serving  compromise.  All  other  religions,  Pagan,  Jewish, 
Mohammedan,  have  been  and  are  incorporated  with  the 
political  institutions — interwoven,  as  it  were,  into  the 
very  texture  of  the  government  of  the  country.  Chris¬ 
tianity  entered  our  world,  and  advanced  without  a  smile 
from  any  earthly  throne,  and  without  the  aid  of  any  mili¬ 
tary  arm.  It  stood  upon  its  own  intrinsic  merits.  It 
challenged  and  sustained  the  severest  scrutiny.  It  pre¬ 
vailed  because  it  was  true,  and  because  God  prospered  it. 
All  human  governments  opposed  and  persecuted  it  from 
the  beginning,  and  through  every  stage  of  its  early 
progress. 

It  received  no  imperial  countenance  until  the  reign 
of  Constantine;  and  it  had  become  the  religion  of  the 
people,  before  that  politic  prince  ever  thought  of  taking 
it  under  his  special  protection.  Constantine,  like  all 
his  predecessors,  whether  emperors,  consuls,  dictators  or 
kings,  had  been  accustomed  to  regard  religion  as  an 
affair  of  State  —  as  an  essential  part  of  the  political 
fabric.  When,  therefore,  he  adopted  Christianity  as  the 
religion  of  the  court  and  the  empire,  he  yielded  none  of 
his  royal  prerogatives:  but  merely  viewed  the  Christian 
faith  as  a  substitute  for  paganism,  and  continued  to  exer¬ 
cise  over  its  forms  and  tenets  the  same  species  of  arbi¬ 
trary  control.  His  example  has  been  followed  throughout 
the  Christian  world — and  ever  since  this  first  bold  act  of 
imperial  usurpation,  Christianity  has  been  compelled  to 


494 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


wear  the  livery  and  to  speak  the  language  of  earthly 
courts  and  despots. 

But  the  gospel  is  not  responsible  for  this  abuse  of  its 
plainest  precepts —  for  this  egregious  perversion  of  its 
genuine  spirit.  Its  divine  author  had,  on  all  occasions, 
disclaimed  any  pretensions  to  worldly  power,  wealth  or 
influence.  He  promptly  checked  every  ambitious  desire 
of  his  followers — and  repeatedly  told  them  that  his  king¬ 
dom  was  not  of  this  world.  He  commanded  them  to 
obey  the  existing  civil  powers — to  render  unto  Csesar 
the  things  which  were  Caesar’s,  (Matt.  xxii.  21) — tribute 
to  whom  tribute,  and  honour  to  whom  honour  was  due, 
(Rom.  xiii.  7)— to  keep  themselves  separate  and  unspot¬ 
ted  from  the  world  and  to  be  clothed  with  humility.  No 
candid  reader  of  the  New  Testament  could  ever  imagine 
that  the  disciples  of  the  meek  and  lowly  Jesus  would  be¬ 
come  ambitious  political  demagogues,  or  aspiring  courtly 
sycophants.  It  is  impossible  that  they  should.  They 
virtually  renounce  their  faith  by  the  very  act.  They 
betray  their  insincerity,  their  unbelief,  their  hypocrisy, 
by  every  such  attempt. 

Christianity,  no  doubt,  has  been  converted  into  an 
instrument  or  pretext  for  all  manner  of  cruelty,  fraud 
and  oppression.  But  all  these  evils  are  ascribable,  not 
to  Christianity,  but  to  the  abuse  of  it — to  infidelity  in 
fact,  wearing  the  Christian  garb,  and  affecting  Christian 
sanctity  for  the  vilest  and  most  iniquitous  purposes. 
Satan  himself,  we  are  assured,  often  chooses  to  appear 
as  an  angel  of  light,  the  more  effectually  to  deceive  the 
unwary.  Thus  infidelity,  in  every  age,  has  best  sue- 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


495 


ceecled  in  the  assumed  character  of  heavenly  wisdom. 
It  has  thus  most  completely  blinded  and  imposed  on  the 
world  by  its  specious  zeal  and  sanctimonious  observances. 
When,  therefore,  men  declaim  about  the  dangerous  influ- 
once  of  the  Christian  religion,  let  them  substitute  the 
term  infidelity.  The  Christian  religion  never  endan¬ 
gered  any  human  right,  privilege  or  immunity,  any  moral 
principle,  or  any  ingredient  of  human  happiness.  False 
religion — infidel  Christianity — has  endangered  all  these; 
and  often  prevailed  to  the  enslaving  of  the  people.  Infi¬ 
del  ecclesiastic  politicians  and  infidel  political  ecclesias¬ 
tics  have,  in  all  ages  and  in  most  countries,  under  some 
pretended  or  usurped  Christian  authority,  succeeded  in 
exalting  themselves,  and  in  humbling  and  degrading  the 
multitude. 

Popular  ignorance  may  be  assigned  as  the  radical  cause 
of  all  this  enormity.  An  ignorant  people  will  always  be 
liable  to  imposition  in  some  form;  and  that  form,  best 
adapted  to  the  purpose  aimed  at,  will  always  be  assumed 
by  the  unprincipled  and  ambitious.  Were  it  as  fashion¬ 
able  and  as  effectual  to  court  the  populace  by  extraordi¬ 
nary  demonstrations  of  sanctity,  in  our  country,  as  it  is 
by  hollow  professions  of  patriotism  and  devotion  to  their 
interests, — every  popular  demagogue  would  presently  be 
transformed  into  a  popular  saint — and  every  stump  speech 
would  be  a  puritanical  sermon.  The  man  would  not  be 
changed  in  the  least.  He  would  merely  have  changed 
his  mode  of  cheating  the  people.  He  would  be  a  pray¬ 
ing,  preaching,  canting  demagogue,  instead  of  being  a 
swearing,  swaggering,  bullying,  duelling,  whisky-treating 


49G 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


demagogue.  In  tlie  one  case,  he  might  become,  like 
Peter  the  Hermit,  the  leader  of  a  modern  crusade  against 
the  possessors  of  some  new  land  of  golden  promise;  or, 
like  Cromwell,  become  the  saintly  Protector  of  the  lives, 
and  liberties,  and  purses  of  the  nation.  In  the  other, 
he  merely  accommodates  himself  to  the  prevailing 
humour  and  follies  of  the  times,  and  plays  the  Clodius 
or  Catiline  for  the  same  meritorious  ends.  There  is  no 
honesty- — no  moral  principle — in  either  case. 

Again,  the  object  of  notoriety,  or  worldly  distinc¬ 
tion,  may  be  secured— when  the  popular  sentiment 
favours  —  by  a  course  of  open,  undisguised,  downright, 
malignant  infidelity.  And  the  man,  who,  in  one  age 
or  country,  might  have  aspired  to  be  an  orthodox  per¬ 
secuting  Pope  or  Cardinal,  may,  in  another,  be  equally 
gratified  in  becoming  a  skeptical,  scoffing  Voltaire  or 
Paine.  So  long  as  political  distinctions — civil  offices — 
continue  to  be  the  principal  objects  of  ambitious  pursuit 
in  our  country, — so  long  will  the  aspirants  to  office  per¬ 
severe  in  courting  and  flattering  the  people  in  order  to 
reach  them;  and  the  system  will  vary  with  every  change 
in  the  popular  feeling. 

Religion,  whether  true  or  false,  Christian  or  infidel, 
has  ever  proved  a  most  efficient  engine  in  exciting  and 
inflaming  the  popular  mind — and  with  what  tremendous 
effect  it  has  been  frequently  wielded,  let  history  tell. 
How  often  has  the  desperate  adventurer  rode  triumphant 
into  the  high  places  of  power  and  splendour  amidst  the 
storms  and  tempests  occasioned  by  religious  frenzy  and 
fanaticism?  How  often  has  the  cunning  politician,  in 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


497 


seasons  of  religious  fervour,  put  on  all  the  sombre  pious 
exterior  of  a  pharisee  of  the  strictest  sect,  and  made  long 
prayers  in  the  corners  of  the  streets  and  in  the  public 
markets,  to  be  seen  of  men  and  to  be  rewarded  by  their 
homage  ? 

The  pharisees  of  old,  we  happen  to  know,  were  the 
popular  favourites  of  their  day,  and  were  universally 
admired  and  revered  for  their  imposing  piety:  whilo 
Christ  himself  was,  at  the  same  time,  accounted  a  glut¬ 
ton  and  a  wine-bibber,  a  friend  of  publicans  and  sinners. 
The  same  kind  of  ostentatious  religion  takes  with  the 
people  still.  They  are  captivated  with  a  grand  display 
of  religion ;  with  eloquent  and  earnest  and  pathetic 
prayers  and  sermons ;  with  loud  and  angry  and  au¬ 
thoritative  denunciations  of  all  plain  matter-of-fact  men, 
who  choose  to  think  that  religion  is  an  every-day  con¬ 
cern,  which  ought  to  be  manifested  in  every  action  of 
life,  as  well  as  at  set  times  and  on  set  occasions.  They 
are  delighted  with  a  furious  exterminating  zeal,  which 
would  unchurch,  excommunicate  and  gibbet  all  who  do 
not  exactly  pronounce  every  prescribed  shibboleth  of  the 
dominant  party;  with  all  that  affectation  of  humility 
which  obtrudes  itself  upon  the  vulgar  gaze  by  the  mere 
trickery  of  external  singularities;  while  the  pride  and 
ambition  of  a  thousand  Wolseys  lurk  within  the  bosom 
of  the  popular  saint. 

If,  then,  my  hearers,  you  dread  the  approaches  of 
priestly  domination — of  ecclesiastical  despotism — of  po¬ 
litical  pharisaism  —  be  up  and  doing  without  delay. 

Scatter  the  light  of  divine  truth  far  and  wide  over 

vol.  hi. — 32 


498 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


this  free  and  happy  land.  Religious  liberty  has  never 
existed  in  any  other  land.  Here,  the  grand  experiment 
is  now  making  for  the  first  time,  to  ascertain  whether 
religion  can  be  maintained  in  any  form,  or  to  any  salu¬ 
tary  extent,  without  the  tender  mercies  of  the  civil  ruler 
— without  a  kirk  or  church  establishment.  Let  us  boldly 
persevere  in  this  experiment:  regardless  of  the  sneers, 
and  predictions,  and  ominous  anticipations  and  fears  and 
wishes  of  all  transatlantic  friends  and  foes.  If  we  are 
true  to  ourselves — to  our  country — and  to  our  God,  the 
experiment  will  succeed  gloriously.  But,  without  the 
Bible,  there  will  be  no  religion, — and  no  security  against 
the  sinister  machinations  of  the  selfish,  the  artful,  the 
ambitious,  of  every  name  and  form. 

Every  enemy  of  the  Bible  is,  whether  conscious  of  it 
or  not,  an  enemy  to  civil  and  religious  liberty,  and  to  all 
the  dearest  rights  of  man.  Infidelity  is  always  ambi¬ 
tious,  intolerant,  persecuting  and  tyrannical.  When 
priests  begin  to  oppose  the  circulation  of  the  Bible, 
you  may  be  sure  it  is  because  their  craft  is  in  danger. 
When  priests,  in  our  country,  seek  to  withhold  the  Bible 
from  the  people,  you  may  set  them  down  as  fairly  en¬ 
listed  in  the  traitorous  project  of  effecting  a  union  of 
Church  and  State — as  aiming  at  an  ecclesiastical  suprem¬ 
acy  over  the  consciences,  the  fortunes  and  the  persons  of 
the  people.  By  their  actions,  ye  may  know  them. 

I  am  aware  that  Bible  Societies  have  been  objected  to, 
as  forming  a  part  of  that  grand  religious  conspiracy  which 
is  said  to  be  already  at  work  in  sapping  the  foundations 
of  our  whole  political  fabric.  The  charges  and  the  calum- 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  499 


nies  of  slieer  ignorance  or  malignity  it  is  impossible  to 
confute  or  repel.  It  is  very  true  that  combination  is 
strength:  and  that  union  of  counsel  and  effort  is  neces¬ 
sary  to  effect  any  important  object  whatever.  Solitary 
man  is  feeble  and  powerless— and,  I  may  add,  useless. 
Wicked  men,  artful  men,  ambitious  men,  have  always 
understood  this  matter  perfectly:  and  hence  they  dili¬ 
gently  labour  to  concentrate  the  affections,  the  zeal,  the 
wealth,  and  the  physical  force  of  the  multitude  upon 
their  favourite  schemes  and  enterprises.  We  have  asso¬ 
ciated  professedly  for  a  good  object.  If  we  have  either 
been  ourselves  deceived,  or  attempted  to  deceive  others, 
let  our  credulity  and  our  hypocrisy  and  our  deeds  of 
darkness  be  duly  exposed;  and  let  us  fall  beneath  the 
indignant  frowns  of  an  insulted  and  injured  community. 
We  crave  no  indulgence— and  we  dread  no  scrutiny. 

This  good  work,  as  we  believe  it  to  be,  of  distributing 
the  Bible  to  the  destitute,  was  first  systematically  under¬ 
taken,  about  twenty-five  years  ago,  by  the  British  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society — the  parent  of  all  similar  insti¬ 
tutions. 

Of  the  history,  statistics,  transactions,  peculiar  objects 
and  advantages  of  Bible  Societies,  I  discoursed,  at  large, 
at  a  former  anniversary  of  this  society. 

The  American  Bible  Society,  at  their  annual  meeting 
in  May,  1829,  resolved  to  supply  every  destitute  family 
in  the  United  States  with  a  Bible  in  two  years  from  that 
time. 

Our  Bible  Society,  heartily  approving  the  noble  reso¬ 
lution  of  the  Parent  Institution,  and  being  desirous  to 


500  MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


share  the  honour  of  carrying  it  into  effect,  have  determ¬ 
ined  to  spare  no  reasonable  efforts  to  offer  the  Bible  to 
every  family  in  Davidson  County  and  throughout  Middle 
Tennessee ,  within  the  current  year — or  sooner  if  prac¬ 
ticable. 

Upon  these  subjects  also,  in  their  various  bearings  and 
applications  to  ourselves  and  others,  I  had  the  honour  to 
address  a  considerable  audience  of  my  fellow-citizens,  on 
a  recent  occasion :  and  that  they  were  not  indifferent  to 
the  calls  of  Christian  charity,  their  liberal  contributions 
at  the  time  amply  evinced.  Let  them  not  be  weary  in 
well-doing;  and  let  others  go  and  do  likewise.  I  shall 
not  repeat  what  I  have  heretofore  pronounced  in  your 
hearing  upon  any  of  these  topics. 

The  business  details  of  our  Society,  as  conducted  by 
the  Board  of  Directors,  during  the  preceding  year,  will 
be  learned  from  the  official  Report  about  to  be  read  by 
the  Secretary. 

The  weighty  considerations  and  eloquent  appeals, 
which  such  an  occasion  and  such  a  theme  might  be 
expected  to  elicit,  will  be  urged  home  upon  your  hearts 
and  consciences  by  the  distinguished  individuals  who 
are  yet  to  address  you.  While  we  listen  therefore  to 
the  facts  and  statements,  to  the  arguments  and  per¬ 
suasions  of  our  honoured  friends,  let  us  try  to  estimate 
the  value  of  that  sacred  treasure  which  we  now  possess. 
Let  us  conceive,  if  we  can,  what  our  lot  might  have 
been  without  the  Bible  —  and  hence  learn  to  compas¬ 
sionate  the  unhappy  condition  of  our  fellow-men  who 
are  still  strangers  to  its  heavenly  influence.  What  sum 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  501 


of  gold  would  tempt  us  deliberately  to  renounce  or  barter 
away  forever  this  precious  inheritance? — and  take  our 
chance  for  time  and  eternity  with  benighted  pagans  or 
with  infatuated  infidels?  Have  we  the  Bible — and  can 
we  be  insensible  to  its  blessings,  or  regardless  of  its  com¬ 
mands?  Have  we  yet  to  learn  that  liberality,  charity, 
active  benevolence,  are  as  positively  enjoined  upon  us  by 
the  great  Jehovah  as  are  the  duties  of  justice  and  com¬ 
mon  honesty?  That  while  human  wants,  and  human 
woes,  and  human  ignorance  abound  in  our  country  or  in 
our  world,  we  are  as  much  obligated  to  seek  their  allevi¬ 
ation  and  removal,  as  we  are  to  pay  our  debts — as  much 
bound  to  love  mercy  as  to  do  justly — as  much  bound  to 
feed  the  hungry  and  clothe  the  naked,  and  instruct  the 
ignorant,  and  to  send  the  gospel  of  salvation  to  the  per¬ 
ishing,  as  to  bring  up  our  own  children  in  the  nurture 
and  admonition  of  the  Lord,  and  to  provide  things  honest 
in  the  sight  of  all  men  for  our  own  households? 

The  Bible  cause,  if  any  cause  in  the  world  can  do  it, 
may  claim  to  unite  the  zeal  and  the  exertions  of  all  sects 
of  Christians,  without  inducing  one  momentary  feeling 
of  suspicion,  jealousy  or  unkindly  exasperation.  Here 
is  common  ground — if  not  neutral  ground — upon  which 
all  may  safely  and  heartily  co-operate.  Christians  are 
not  required  to  think  alike,  on  all  points,  any  more  than 
to  look  alike.  Let  them  differ  in  charity— and  respect 
each  other’s  scruples,  peculiarities  and  prejudices.  But 
if  they  possess  the  spirit  of  their  Master  they  will  be 
ever  in  readiness  to  march  forth,  with  one  heart,  to  the 
help  of  the  Lord  against  the  mighty. 


502 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


Is  it  possible  that  Christians  can  pray  to  the  great 
Head  of  the  church,  from  day  to  day,  “thy  kingdom 
come,”  and  yet  refuse  to  contribute  an  effort  or  a  dollar 
towards  its  enlargement?  That  the  highly -favoured 
Christian  citizens  of  the  wealthy  and  flourishing  City 
of  Nashville  ought  to  give  something  to  aid  the  great 
work  of  circulating  the  Bible,  and  of  evangelizing  the 
world — none  of  us,  here  in  the  presence  of  the  hearts 
searching  God,  will  dare  to  question.  How  much  each 
individual  ought  to  give  must  be  left  to  his  own  con¬ 
science,  and  his  own  sense  of  responsibility  and  obligar 
tion.  I  judge  no  man.  God  is  Judge  of  you  and  me. 
I  upbraid  no  man.  “To  his  own  Master  he  standeth  or 
falleth.”  (Rom.  xiv.  4.)  I  shall  need  indulgence  in  the 
great  day,  on  this  score,  as  much  as  any  of  you.  None 
of  us,  in  the  hour  of  death,  or  before  the  judgment-seat 
of  Christ,  will  ever  imagine  that  we  have  done  too  much, 
or  given  away  too  much,  in  charity.  Our  regret  will  not 
then  be,  that  we  have  loved  and  honoured  the  Bible  too 
much,  or  that  we  have  loved  our  fellow-men  too  much, 
or  that  we  were  too  zealous  in  spreading  the  gospel,  or 
too  liberal  in  our  benefactions  to  disseminate  the  knowl¬ 
edge  and  the  blessings  of  heavenly  truth,  and  wisdom, 
and  peace,  and  joy,  and  salvation. 


VINDICATION  OF  THE  TEMPERANCE  CAUSE. 


[MAY  15,  1831.] 


» 


I 


VINDICATION  OF  THE  TEMPERANCE 

CAUSE.* 


At  the  request  of  the  Tennessee  Temperance  Society, 
I  appear  before  you  this  day  as  the  advocate  of  temper¬ 
ance  and  of  temperance  associations.  I  should  certainly 
have  declined  the  task  on  this  occasion,  as  I  had  done  at 
other  times,  on  the  ground  that  many  individuals,  more 
highly  gifted  and  better  fitted  for  the  work,  could  have 
been  easily  prevailed  on  to  officiate,  did  I  not  apprehend 
that  my  silence  might,  at  length,  be  construed  into  indif¬ 
ference  or  hostility  to  the  cause  itself.  I  felt  the  diffi¬ 
culty  of  meeting  any  reasonable  expectations  in  dis¬ 
coursing  on  a  subject  so  thoroughly  exhausted  by  the 
numerous  able  essays  and  eloquent  addresses  which  have 
been  written,  and  spoken,  and  published  in  every  corner 
of  our  land  —  which  seemed  to  preclude  the  hope  of 
exciting  interest  or  of  commanding  attention  by  even 
the  semblance  of  novelty,  in  any  mode  of  argument  or 
illustration  which  might  be  adopted.  I  was  not  insen¬ 
sible  also  to  the  extreme  delicacy  of  the  undertaking, 
which  would  require  no  mean  share  of  prudence  and 
tact  to  discuss  the  subject  fairly  and  fully  without  giving 
offence.  I  knew  that  a  large  majority  of  my  hearers 

*  An  Address  delivered  before  the  Tennessee  State  Temperance 
Society,  May  15,  1831. 


(505) 


506 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


bad  already  listened  to  the  most  powerful  appeals  to 
their  reason  and  conscience  upon  this  momentous  theme 
— and  that  many  were  familiar  with  the  luminous  and 
masterly  dissertations  which  have  been  recently  dis¬ 
persed,  in  every  variety  of  form,  among  the  people,  by 
Tract  Societies  or  by  the  periodical  press.  For  these 
and  other  cogent  reasons,  I  fain  would  have  been  excused 
from  a  service,  which,  in  reference  to  one  class,  might  be 
deemed  superfluous,  and  to  another,  as  idle  and  una¬ 
vailing  as  all  previous  efforts  of  the  kind  have  confess¬ 
edly  proved.  Some  men  yield  a  ready  and  instinctive 
assent  to  truth  whenever  exhibited — while  the  obstinate 
prejudices  of  others  cannot  be  overcome  by  any  argu¬ 
ment.  The  first  have  been  already  won — and  is  not  the 
case  of  the  latter  utterly  desperate? 

The  evils  of  intemperance  had  been  acknowledged, 
exposed  and  deplored,  in  every  age  and  country,  by  all 
sane  moralists  and  by  all  good  men.  Genius  and  wisdom 
and  piety  and  patriotism  had  been  arrayed  against  its 
destructive  dominion;  and  had  laboured  to  emancipate 
a  suffering  world  from  its  degrading  despotism.  The 
preacher,  the  lawyer,  the  physician,  the  judge,  the 
statesman,  the  philanthropist,  the  wit,  the  philosopher, 
the  satirist,  the  orator,  the  poet,  had  all  expended  their 
energy  and  their  zeal  in  the  noblest  efforts  to  subdue  or  to 
arrest  this  insidious  and  unsatiable  foe  to  human  happi¬ 
ness.  But  what  did  they  all  achieve?  IIow  stood  the 
case  only  some  half-dozen  short  years  ago?  The  press, 
the  pulpit,  the  law,  had  done  their  utmost.  The  statis¬ 
tics  of  intemperance  were  collected  and  canvassed.  The 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


507 


most  astounding  and  appalling  facts  were  disclosed  and 
proclaimed  to  the  world.  Thirty  or  forty  thousand  of 
our  citizens  annually  slain  by  ardent  spirits — three  hun¬ 
dred  thousand  more  in  the  broad  road  to  destruction  from 
the  same  cause — fifty  millions  of  dollars  annually  wasted 
upon  this  dreadful  poison — three-fourths  of  all  the  pau¬ 
perism,  crime,  disease  and  misery  of  our  land  occasioned 
by  intemperance — penitentiaries  and  prisons  and  hospi¬ 
tals  and  almshouses  and  lunatic  asylums  crowded  with 
its  victims  —  mothers  and  children  beggared,  deserted, 
ruined  by  drunken  husbands  and  fathers — the  whole 
aspect  of  society  deformed,  bloated,  repulsive,  hideous — 
the  thirst  for  the  maddening  bowl  becoming  every  day 
stronger  and  more  general — sots  to  be  met  with  at  every 
turn  in  every  village,  and  almost  in  every  family- — the 
most  temperate  parent  scarcely  daring  to  hope  that  all 
his  sons  would  escape  the  universal  contagion,  and  ac¬ 
counting  himself  fortunate  even  if  he  should  be  blessed 
with  one  sober  son  to  sustain  and  cheer  him  in  his  old 
age,  and  to  close  his  eyes  at  last  upon  this  world  of 
sorrow  and  disappointment.  In  a  word — 

The  gloom  of  despair  seemed  to  gather  over  the  future 
— and  to  fasten  upon  the  heart  of  philanthropy.  What 
shall  be  done  to  stem  the  torrent?  was  the  universal 
inquiry.  The  drunkard’s  case  was  conceded  to  be  des¬ 
perate.  His  reformation  was  hopeless.  Friendship, 
affection,  reason,  religion,  pride,  honour,  had  warned, 
entreated,  threatened,  importuned,  in  vain.  He  was,  by 
common  consent,  abandoned  to  his  fate.  Society  re¬ 
nounced  its  claims  upon  him  as  a  citizen  and  a  man. 


508 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


His  estate,  his  family,  his  reputation  were  regarded  as  in 
fearful  jeopardy — us  soon  as  it  was  whispered  that  he 
had  begun  to  tipple,  or  to  visit  the  tavern  or  grogshop. 
I  well  remember — for  I  was  bom  and  brought  up  in  a 
land  of  distilleries  and  drunkards, — how  the  grave  and 
pious  old  people  used  to  converse  about,  and  to  lament 
over,  the  failings  of  one  and  another  of  their  once 
thriving,  prosperous  and  respectable  neighbours — whose 
fondness  for  strong  drmk  was  just  beginning  to  be  known 
or  suspected.  And  invariably,  the  unfortunate  party 
was,  by  every  voice,  set  down  as  ruined.  The  sons  of 
the  best  men  in  the  community  often  fell  a  prey  to  the 
prevailing  vice.  No  father,  as  I  have  already  intimated, 
however  wise,  or  cautious,  or  sober,  or  religious,  felt 
assured  that  his  sons  would  not  disgrace  his  name  and 
bring  down  his  gray  hairs  with  sorrow  to  the  grave,  by 
lives  of  intemperance.  The  danger  was  imminent — the 
tempter  was  ever  at  the  door — -and  every  individual  met 
him  in  every  company  and  on  all  occasions.  At  mar¬ 
riages,  at  christenings,  at  funerals,  at  elections,  at  militia 
musters,  at  independence  celebrations,  at  public  festivals, 
at  private  entertainments,  at  dinner,  at  supper,  in  the 
workshop,  in  the  field,  at  home,  abroad,  in  winter,  in 
summer,  at  the  tavern,  when  travelling  by  land  or  by 
water,  in  all  places,  at  all  times, — brandy,  whisky,  ardent 
spirit  in  some  enticing  form  or  other,  was  always  at  hand 
— and  there  was  never  wanting  the  urgent  invitation 
of  interest  or  hospitality  to  partake  of  the  intoxicating 
beverage.  So  that  America — old  America  at  least — was 
not  undeservedly  stigmatized  by  foreigners  as  a  land 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


509 


of  drunkards.  How  could  it  have  been  otherwise  ? 

Fashion  prescribed  the  universal  use  of  spirit  as  an 

♦ 

article  of  necessity  among  all  sorts  of  labourers,  and 
of  hospitable  entertainment  at  every  social  party  and 
friendly  meeting. 

Under  these  circumstances,  the  wonder  was  that  any 
mortal  should  pass  the  fiery  ordeal  unharmed.  And  yet 
it  seems  never  to  have  occurred  to  our  frugal  sires,  that 
this  constant  exposure  of  their  children  to  the  sight, 
smell  and  taste  of  inebriating  liquors,  would  naturally 
produce  a  generation  of  sots;  that  they  were  in  fact 
training  their  children  precisely  as  if  they  designed  them 
to  become  drunkards :  that  their  own  temperate  drink¬ 
ing  was  the  sole  cause  of  all  the  calamities  which  they 
dreaded  and  lamented. 

At  length,  howrever,  the  obvious  cause  of  the  evil  in 
question  was  conjectured — was  acknowledged — was  pro¬ 
claimed — was  accredited  by  the  world, —  and  measures 
were  soon  taken  to  apply  the  remedy. 

Now,  among  all  the  discoveries  inventions  and  im¬ 
provements  of  this  wonderful  age,  I  venture  to  assert 
that  this  single  discovery  of  a  radical  cure  and  pre¬ 
ventive  of  intemperance  is  the  grandest  and  most  invalu¬ 
able  that  has  yet  been  made,  and  that  it  will  distinguish 
the  period  in  which  we  live  more  signally  than  any  or 
all  others  put  together. 

Discoveries  in  practical  morality  are  always  rare  and 
difficult — and  a  revolution  in  popular  customs,  usages 
and  habits  can  never  be  effected  except  by  absolute 
authority,  or  by  the  overwhelming  majesty  and  omnipo- 


510 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


tent  energy  of  truths  when  allowed  to  speak  in  her  own 
persuasive  and  eloquent  language,  to  the  common  sense, 
to  the  interests,  and  to  the  hearts  of  intelligent  reflecting 
men. 

What  then  was  the  marvellous  discovery  to  which  w^e 
have  alluded,  and  from  which  we  anticipate  such  trans¬ 
cendent  benefits?  Simply  this:  that  the  moderate  and 
temperate  use  of  ardent  spirits  was  the  fatal  cause  of  all 
the  intemperance  in  the  world ;  and  that  entire,  abso¬ 
lute,  universal  abstinence  from  distilled  liquors  wras  the 
only  effectual  remedy  and  preventive  of  the  mischief. 
But  how  was  the  remedial  or  preventive  system  to  be 
rendered  efficient  or  commensurate  with  the  evil?  Was 
it  enough  to  promulgate  the  new  doctrine  from  the  press 
and  the  pulpit?  Would  it  have  sufficed  to  have  commis¬ 
sioned  heralds  to  preach  a  crusade  throughout  the  land 
against  intemperance — or  against  the  temperate  use  of 
ardent  spirits?  No  such  thing.  Our  enlightened  sages 
judged  more  wisely.  They  knew  that  individual  effort 
could  accomplish  little  —  comparatively  nothing.  They 
therefore  sought  for  strength — for  the  requisite  moral 
power  —  in  union,  in  combination,  in  association  —  in 
bringing  the  influence  of  numbers  to  bear  directly  and 
unceasingly  upon  the  enemy  until  he  should  be  routed 
and  utterly  exterminated. 

A  few  minor  associations  led  the  van — served  as  pio¬ 
neers — cleared  the  way  of  many  obstacles — and  evinced 
their  prowess  in  the  good  work.  Then  followed  the 
formation  of  the  “ American  Temperance  Society,”  in 
February,  1826.  Already,  there  are  thirteen  or  fourteen 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


511 


State  Temperance  Societies.  The  number  of  county, 
city  or  town  associations  is  not  less,  it  is  believed,  than 
3000  —  and  the  individual  members  probably  exceed 
300,000  —  consisting  of  the  best,  most  intelligent  and 
most  eminent  men  in  our  country.  These  exert  an 
influence,  more  or  less  direct,  over  some  two  or  three 
millions  of  our  people.  It  is  too  late  to  consider  the 
question,  either  of  right ,  or  of  expediency ,  or  of  heneficicd 
tendency.  Experience  has  triumphantly  established  all 
these  points,  and  dissipated  all  manner  of  doubts  and 
objections.  Still,  wdiere  the  system  is  not  thoroughly 
understood — where  it  is  novel — where  it  has  been  mis-' 
represented,  or  imperfectly  exhibited,  or  maliciously 
opposed,  or  sneeringly  ridiculed — old  objections  may 
require  a  passing  notice  and  renewed  refutation. 

In  such  places  and  by  such  persons,  it  is  currently 
objected  to  Temperance  Societies,  that  they  are  super¬ 
fluous — that  all  men  do  or  may  know  their  duty— -that 
they  ought  not  to  pledge  themselves  to  each  other  to 
abstain  from  ardent  spirits — that  every  individual  should 
be  left  to  the  dictates  of  his  own  conscience  in  this,  as  in 
other  matters  which  are  not  regulated  by  the  civil  law — 
that  it  is  both  useless  and  tyrannical  to  require  of  him  a 
promise  or  a  bond  to  pursue  a  prescribed  course  of  duty 
— that  the  principle  of  total  abstinence  may  be  very 
correct  and  wise  and  salutary;  but  why  all  this  public 
parade,  this  ostentatious  notoriety,  this  signing  of  docu¬ 
ments,  this  subscription  to  rules  and  codes,  this  invidious 
separation  from  the  ranks  of  the  people,  this  assumption 
of  extraordinary  dictatorial  powers,  this  arrogant  claim 


512 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


to  more  virtue,  self-denial  and  discretion  than  belong  to 
the  mass  of  our  fellow-citizens? 

This  strain  of  remark  is  sufficiently  obvious  and  plaus¬ 
ible — but  carries  no  force  with  it  to  sensible  considerate 
men.  It  is  the  mere  cant  of  ignorance  or  obstinacy — 
or,  at  best,  the  specious  sophistry  with  wffiich  a  certain 
description  of  the  community  are  willing  to  satisfy  their 
own  scruples  and  to  delude  and  pacify  others. 

Man  is  a  social  animal.  All  his  power — all  his  enjoy¬ 
ments — all  his  virtues  and  all  his  vices — result  from 
association.  As  an  individual,  he  is  powerless,  helpless, 
useless.  He  becomes  strong  and  mighty  and  invincible, 
only  by  associating  with  his  fellows.  His  capacity  for 
good  or  for  evil  is  just  in  proportion  to  the  influence 
which  he  can  exert  over  others.  Thus  it  is  that  the 
ambitious  man,  the  benevolent  man,  the  good  man,  and 
the  wicked  man,  succeed  in  revolutionizing,  in  adorning 
and  elevating,  or  in  degrading  the  character  and  condi¬ 
tion  of  mankind. 

Are  we  assailed  by  a  potent  enemy,  and  shall  we  not 
unite  in  resisting  him?  Has  this  enemy,  by  intrigue  or 
stratagem,  by  artifice  or  violence,  gained  possession  of 
our  strongholds  and  high  places — and  is  he  already, 
without  feeling  or  remorse,  swaying  the  sceptre  of  des¬ 
potism  over  a  deceived,  misguided  and  suffering  people? 
And  shall  we  tamely,  silently,  slavishly,  endure  the 
bondage — or  boldly  resolve  to  rise  in  mass  upon  our 
oppressors,  and  live  free  or  die  ?  Is  any  man  so  cowardly 
as  to  counsel  passive  obedience,  non-resistance,  noiseless 
uncomplaining  resignation  ?  or  so  infatuated  as  to  pro- 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


513 


pose  that  every  man  should  decide  and  act  for  himself, 
at  such  a  juncture,  without  reference  to  his  neighbour, 
or  to  the  general  welfare? 

Now,  intemperance,  countenanced  in  its  remote  and 
approximate  cause,  as  it  long  has  been,  by  public  opinion 
— reigning  and  rioting,  as  it  were,  by  the  prescription  of 
a  thousand  years- — is  precisely  such  a  foe,  and  is  exer¬ 
cising  precisely  such  an  absolute  despotism  throughout 
our  land.  This  tyranny  cannot  be  broken  down  by  the 
opinions,  or  efforts,  or  example  of  isolated  individuals. 
Against  this  deadly  and  insidious  and  merciless  op¬ 
pressor,  a  well -disciplined  army  must  be  raised  and 
equipped  and  marched  into  the  field  to  do  battle.  The 
patriot  soldier  must  come  forth  from  the  enemy’s  camp, 
and  enlist  under  the  banner  of  the  patriot  captain.  He 
must  swear  fealty  to  the  cause  of  freedom  and  reform — 
and  if  he  prove  false,  be  branded  as  a  traitor. 

The  empire  of  intemperance  is  to  be  demolished — and 
the  friends  of  humanity  are  beating  up  for  volunteers  to 
establish  upon  its  ruins  the  republic  of  temperance.  A 
battle  is  to  be  fought.  We  want  soldiers.  Who  will 
enlist?  We  have  large  bounty  to  offer  at  the  outset — - 
and  rich  rewards  when  the  victory  is  achieved.  Honour, 
peace,  prosperity,  health,  long  life,  wealth,  fair  lands,  good 
crops,  liberty,  happiness,  a  flourishing  commonwealth,  and 
a  grateful  posterity,  will  attend  and  remunerate  all  who 
serve  to  the  end  of  the  war.  Success  need  never  be 
doubted.  Stout  hearts,  pure  hands,  a  good  cause,  honest 
purpose,  determined  perseverance,  will,  with  the  divine 

blessing,  insure  a  glorious  triumph. 

vol.  in. — 33 


514 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


Let  us  calculate,  a  moment,  the  chances  on  this  sub¬ 
ject.  We  see  the  nature  of  our  present  position.  We 
are  encompassed  by  a  host  of  whisky  manufacturers,  of 
whisky  venders,  and  of  whisky  drinkers — all  of  whom 
are  conscious  of  the  folly  and  wickedness  of  drinking  to 
excess — and  two-thirds  of  them,  if  not  the  remaining 
third,  are  perfectly  aware  that  even  moderate  drinking 
does  much  harm  and  no  good.  Every  labouring  man 
feels  this  to  be  by  far  the  heaviest  tax  with  which  he  is 
burdened — but  he  dares  not  infringe  the  statutes  which 
arbitrary  custom  has  ordained.  Would  he  be  disobliged 
if  these  onerous  statutes  were  repealed  or  abrogated  for¬ 
ever?  Or  if  this  were  done  against  his  will,  would  his 
family,  his  wife  and  children,  be  disobliged  by  such  a 
measure  ? 

I  mean  not  to  denounce  or  inveigh  against  the  habitual 
drunkard.  Towards  him  I  cherish  no  sentiments  but 
those  of  sympathy  and  compassion.  The  usages  of  his 
country  have  undone  him.  A  whisky  drinking  commu¬ 
nity  must  share  the  blame,  the  sin  and  the  infamy  which 
attach  to  his  deplorable  lot — and  be,  in  a  great  measure, 
if  not  altogether,  responsible  for  his  wretchedness. 

Nor  will  I  rail  at  the  whisky  maker  or  the  whisky 
seller.  These  too  are  sustained,  encouraged  and  fostered 
by  the  same  whisky  drinking  public.  But  for  the  latter, 
the  former  could  not  exist  a  moment.  Their  craft  is  at 
an  end,  whenever  the  people  cease  to  reward  it:  or  it 
will  seek  the  covert  of  midnight  darkness  as  soon  as  the 
public  countenance  shall  frown  upon  it. 

But  there  are  many  who  do  not  drink  whisky  at  all 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


515 


—who  see  all  the  dangers  and  evils  and  horrors  of  the 
practice- — whose  experience  and  observation,  whose  read¬ 
ing  and  reflection,  have  convinced  them  that  ardent 
spirits,  when  used  ever  so  moderately,  in  any  degree 
or  in  any  form,  are  injurious  to  health,  to  morals,  to 
intellect,  and  all  the  dearest  interests  of  individuals  and 
of  society.  I  am  sure  that  not  a  few  of  my  present  hear¬ 
ers  are  fully  persuaded  on  these  points,  and  that  their 
practice  accords  with  their  convictions.  From  such  men, 
we  shall  not  expect  either  opposition  or  neutrality  or 
lukewarmness.  If  they  have  not  yet  enrolled  their 
names  in  the  books  of  the  great  national  army  of  free¬ 
men,  it  must  he  because  they  have  hitherto  had  no 
opportunity  of  doing  it.  They  will  be  eager  to  approve 
themselves  openly  before  the  world  what  they  profess 
to  be  in  private — the  conscientious,  intrepid,  undaunted 
friends  and  champions  of  temperance. 

When  I  commenced  this  discourse,  I  probably  took  too 
much  for  granted.  The  case  seemed  so  clear — the  sub¬ 
ject  so  hackneyed — that  I  nearly  resolved  to  avoid  all 
details  and  all  elaborate  argument — because  to  one  por¬ 
tion  of  my  hearers  it  would  be  an  old  story,  and  upon 
another,  a  mere  waste  of  words.  But,  perhaps,  there  are 
some  who  are  still  doubtful  and  wavering,  and  halting 
between  two  opinions — who  have  read  little  and  thought 
less  upon  the  subject — and  who  are  yet  open  to  convic¬ 
tion.  In  addressing  a  sentence  or  two  to  such  persons,  I 
would  be  understood  as  aiming  at  nothing  more  than 
suggesting  a  few  hints  to  induce  further  investigation 
and  reflection. 


516 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


The  deleterious  and  poisonous  nature  of  alcohol, — as 
ardent  spirit,  in  its  purest  undiluted  form,  is  styled, — 
remained,  in  a  great  measure,  unknown  and  unsuspected 
until  recently.  Modern  science  has  ascertained  its  gen¬ 
uine  character  and  properties.  In  many  useful  arts  it  is 
a  valuable,  perhaps  necessary  agent — and  for  this  pur¬ 
pose  it  will  continue  to  be  manufactured  when  it  shall 
have  ceased  to  be  used  as  a  drink.  From  the  materia 
medica  it  has  not  yet  been  excluded, — and  whether  it 
will  or  ought  to  be  thus  excluded  absolutely,  must  be 
left  with  the  learned  faculty  to  decide.  One  point,  how¬ 
ever,  has  been  definitely  and  irrevocably  settled,  namely: 
that  except  as  a  medicine,  and  when  prescribed  by  a  very 
honest  and  very  skilful  physician,  ardent  spirit  ought 
never  to  come  in  contact  with  the  lips  of  mortal  man — 
nor  of  woman  either! 

The  chemist,  the  physiologist,  the  physician — both  of 
Europe  and  America — have,  by  their  recent  researches 
and  publications,  shed  a  flood  of  light  upon  this  curious 
and  interesting,  though  melancholy  and  revolting  sub¬ 
ject.  However  prone  to  differ,  and  to  dispute,  and  to 
dogmatize  upon  other  topics  —  they  all  harmoniously 
agree  in  proscribing  ardent  spirit,  and  co-operate  heart 
and  hand  in  their  benevolent  endeavours  to  banish  it 
alike  from  the  palace  and  the  cottage — from  the  work¬ 
shop  and  the  farm — from  the  army  and  the  navy — from 
the  land  and  the  ocean.  They  have  done,  too,  what 
many  preachers  have  failed  to  do.  They  have  strictly 
conformed  their  own  lives  to  their  doctrines.  They 
have  set  the  example  of  total  abstinence.  In  many 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


517 


parts  of  our  country,  medical  societies  have,  by  a  unani¬ 
mous  vote,  become  temperance  societies — and  solemnly 
bound  themselves  to  promote  the  cause  of  temperance 
among  others  to  the  utmost  of  their  ability. 

I  feel  no  small  degree  of  patriotic  pride  in  having  so 
legitimate  an  occasion  to  pay  a  well  merited  tribute  of 
praise  to  the  medical  profession  of  my  country,  for  their 
generous,  noble,  disinterested,  judicious,  philanthropic 
and  successful  efforts  in  behalf  of  degraded  suffering 
humanity.  To  appreciate  the  value  of  their  services — 
conceive,  if  you  can,  what  might  have  been  the  result, 
had  the  weight  of  their  influence,  talents,  learning,  zeal 
and  ingenuity  been  thrown  into  the  opposite  scale.  Had 
they  even  been  neutral,  indifferent,  inactive,  silent;  or 
merely  witty  and  playful  about  the  matter — had  they 
represented  whisky  as  harmless,  or  as  noxious  only  when 
immoderately  used;  or,  as  some  pious  folks  express  it,  as 
one  of  God’s  creatures  which  could  not  have  been  made 
in  vain,  and  therefore  must  have  been  designed  for  their 
own  special  comfort — or  had  they  sneered  at  the  cold 
water  drinkers,  as  is  the  fashion  with  sundry  of  our 
exquisite  witlings  and  electioneering  oracles — or  had  they 
deemed  it  quite  enough  to  take  care  of  themselves  indi¬ 
vidually,  and  to  leave  their  neighbours  undisturbed  and 
un alarmed,  as  multitudes  of  our  more  wary  sages  profess 
to  think  is  the  better  course — what  would  have  been  the 
aspect  of  the  temperance  cause  at  this  day?  Yerily, 
future  generations  shall  rise  up  and  call  them  blessed. 

They  have  manifested  no  cowardice,  no  hypocrisy,  no 
selfishness,  no  temporizing  policy,  no  balancing  of  petty 


518  MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


claims  and  interests,  no  cautious  calculations  about  popu¬ 
lar  opinion,  no  prudent  reserve  or  hesitation  as  to  the 
plan  or  measures  to  be  adopted — they  have  come  for¬ 
ward  boldly  and  manfully  against  the  common  enemy, 
and  have  unequivocally  and  professionally  declared  that 
the  most  temperate  use  of  ardent  spirit  has  been  and  is 
the  prolific  and  exclusive  source  of  all  the  direful  calami¬ 
ties  with  which  intemperance  has  cursed  and  blasted  our 
once  fair  and  happy  land.  Were  it  not  invidious,  I  could 
cite  a  long  list  of  illustrious  names,  with  the  immortal 
Rush  at  their  head,  who  have  discussed  this  subject  in 
all  its  bearings,  and  whose  testimony  and  reasoning  could 
not  fail  to  carry  conviction  home  to  the  heart  of  the  most 
skeptical  and  ignorant. 

From  an  address  before  a  temperance  society  of  one  of 
them — being  the  latest  which  has  fallen  into  my  hands 
— I  quote  the  following  brief  passage  as  a  specimen. 

The  learned  and  pious  author — a  physician  and  a  pro¬ 
fessor  in  a  medical  college — having  treated  of  the  effects 
of  ardent  spirit  on  the  physical  powers,  at  considerable 
length,  under  eight  distinct  heads — proceeds  thus: — 

“But  time  would  fail  me,  were  I  to  attempt  an  account 
of  half  the  pathology  of  drunkenness.  Dyspepsia ,  jaun¬ 
dice ,  emaciation ,  corpulence ,  dropsy ,  ulcers ,  rheumatism , 
gout ,  tremors ,  palpitation ,  hysteria ,  epilepsy palsy ,  lethargy , 
apoplexy ,  melancholy ,  madness ,  delirium \  tremens ,  and  pre¬ 
mature  old  age ,  compose  but  a  small  part  of  the  catalogue 
of  diseases  produced  by  ardent  spirit.  Indeed,  there  is 
scarcely  a  morbid  affection  to  which  the  human  body  is 
liable,  that  has  not,  in  one  way  or  another,  been  pro- 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  519 

duced  by  it;  there  is  not  a  disease  but  it  has  aggravated, 
nor  a  predisposition  to  disease,  which  it  has  not  called 
into  action;  and  although  its  effects  are  in  some  degree 
modified  by  age  and  temperament,  by  habit  and  occupa¬ 
tion,  by  climate  and  season  of  the  year,  and  even  by  the 
intoxicating  agent  itself;  yet,  the  general  and  ultimate 
consequences  are  the  same.”* 

It  is,  indeed,  a  universally  admitted  maxim  among 
scientific  physicians,  contrary  to  the  vulgar  opinion  on 
the  subject,  that  the  habitual  use  of  ardent  spirit  gen¬ 
erates  a  predisposition  to  disease  and  death.  So  that, 
other  things  being  equal,  the  drunkard  is  more  liable  to 
be  affected  by  any  exposure  to  infection  or  contagion,  to 
heat  or  cold,  to  humidity  or  malaria,  or  to  any  of  the  ten 
thousand  accidents  and  maladies  which  flesh  is  heir  to, 
than  the  sober  man.  Ardent  spirit,  so  far  from  protect¬ 
ing  the  system,  always  renders  it  more  obnoxious  to 
decay  and  dissolution  from  all  the  agents  which  Provi¬ 
dence  has  ordained  for  its  eventual  destruction.  So  far, 
then,  from  being  a  preventive  of  disease,  or  an  antidote 
to  pestilential  miasmata,  or  the  elixir  of  life,  it  is  directly 
and  invariably  the  reverse. 

Physicians  have  shown,  too,  how  certainly  and  fear¬ 
fully  the  intellectual  and  moral  faculties  are  enfeebled, 
degraded,  and,  at  length,  extinguished,  under  the  same 
baleful  influence. 

I  might,  moreover,  direct  the  inquirer  to  the  records 
of  crime — to  the  statistics  of  prisons  and  penitentiaries 
— to  the  published  statements  and  declarations  of  our 


*  Dr.  Thomas  Sewall,  p.  14. 


520 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


ablest  judges  and  prosecuting  attorneys — for  ample  evi¬ 
dence  to  demonstrate  the  wide-spread  havoc,  the  over¬ 
whelming  desolation,  occasioned  by  intemperance  — 
which  is  itself,  be  it  remembered,  engendered  and  nur¬ 
tured  by  the  temperate  use  of  inebriating  liquors.  No 
pencil  can  adequately  delineate  the  wretchedness  of  a 
single  widowed  or  deserted  mother,  or  of  a  single  ne¬ 
glected  off-cast  orphan,  whose  husband  or  father  has 
been  doomed  to  the  ignominy  of  a  dungeon  or  the 
gallows,  —  to  say  nothing  of  the  horrible  fate  of  the 
guilty  sufferer  himself.  Who  then  shall  attempt  to  por¬ 
tray  the  agonies  endured  by  the  thousands  of  mothers, 
children,  relations  and  friends  of  the  condemned  and 
ruined  victims  of  legal  justice  —  after  having  become 
the  reckless  victims  of  intemperance? 

Who  can  describe  the  wo — the  bitterness  of  anguish 
—  of  an  honourable  father — of  a  tender  affectionate 
mother — when  they  contemplate  the  bloated  ruins  of  a 
once  promising,  ingenuous,  dutiful  and  talented  son? 
In  childhood  and  youth,  he  was  amiable  and  lovely — 
at  school,  he  was  docile  and  studious;  and  the  buddings 
of  genius  were  obvious  to  every  eye,  and  the  parental 
bosom  fondly  cherished  the  delusive  hope  of  future 
eminence,  surpassing  even  the  brightest  visions  which 
so  fair  a  beginning  seemed  to  indicate.  But  the  youth 
was  social  and  generous — he  was  caressed  and  flattered 
— of  the  festive  board  and  the  gay  circle  he  was  the 
life  and  soul — he  participated,  without  check  or  re¬ 
straint,  in  the  usual  amusements  and  pleasures  of  the 
sphere  in  which  he  moved.  By  degrees  he  learned  to 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


521 


relish  the  inspiring  draught  which  was  ever  at  hand 
— occasionally,  he  would,  with  his  jovial  companions, 
indulge  in  excess — and  thus,  almost  imperceptibly,  the 
incipient  taste  grew  into  a  confirmed  habit,  before  he 
had  ripened  into  manhood,  or  entered  upon  the  serious 
pursuits  of  active  life  or  professional  ambition. 

I  need  not  follow  him,  step  by  step,  to  the  inevitable 
catastrophe  which  awaits  him.  The  steps,  indeed,  are 
few  and  rapid.  Incapacitated  for  success  in  any  honour¬ 
able  vocation, — too  proud  to  grovel  in  the  lowest  ranks 
of  vagrancy  and  penury— unable  to  struggle  against  the 
tide  of  ill  fortune  which  is  bearing  him  onward,  or  to 
regain,  by  decision  and  perseverance,  his  forfeited  char¬ 
acter  and  self-respect — he  yields  all,  at  length,  to  the 
subtle  tempter — and,  by  one  bold  act  of  desperate  vil- 
lany, — of  embezzlement,  of  fraud,  of  theft,  of  robbery, 
of  murder,  it  may  be — he  falls  to  rise  no  more! — The 
prey  and  the  spoil  of  youthful  intemperance!  Our 
world — our  country — has  furnished  many  such  an  in¬ 
stance. 

I  have  seen  scores  of  just  such  youth  in  college — in 
Eastern  colleges — in  the  land  of  steady  habits,  of  Bibles, 
churches,  and  gospel  ministers — where,  by-tlie-way,  all 
is  not  gold  that  glitters — I  have  seen  them,  when  they 
first  began  to  sip  the  savoury  medicated  and  half-dis¬ 
guised  inebriating  potion,  and  steadily  advancing  from 
weaker  to  stronger,  until  they  could  swallow,  without  a 
nervous  twinge,  or  muscular  movement,  or  moral  scruple, 
the  raw  gin  and  brandy  and  whisky  of  the  shops — I  have 
seen  them  habitual  incurable  sots  at  twenty,  and  in  their 


522 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


graves  at  twenty-five.  Others,  again,  have  not  lived  so 
fast,  and  therefore  have  lived  longer.  But  they  lived 
only  to  squander  their  property,  to  disgrace  their  family, 
to  break  the  hearts  of  their  doting  parents,  and  to  curse 
society.  They  may  have  escaped  the  jail  and  the 
gibbet — but  they  have  amply  scourged  the  guilty  gen¬ 
eration  which  tolerated  the  abomination  by  which  they 
were  thus  cloven  down,  or  converted  into  fiends,  in  the 
morning  of  their  days. 

Is  there  a  father  or  a  mother  in  this  assembly  so  blind, 
so  infatuated,  so  insensible,  so  abandoned,  as  still  to 
countenance  and  to  uphold  a  usage  so  fraught  with 
horror,  so  productive  of  crime  and  ruin  and  infamy  and 
despair?  Let  me  solemnly  admonish  such  father  or 
mother,  that,  if  ever  a  son  of  theirs  shall  become  a 
drunkard,  they  will  have  made  him  a  drunkard.  I  am 
speaking  not  of  the  past,  but  of  the  future.  The  times 
of  this  universal  ignorance  and  delusion,  God  winked  at 
or  permitted — but  now  he  commandeth  all  men  every¬ 
where  to  repent — and  to  escape,  not  merely  the  deep 
gulf  of  perdition,  but  to  turn  aside  altogether  from  the 
great  highway  which  leads  to  it.  In  former  days, 
parents  destroyed  their  children  without  suspecting  it. 
They  threw  them  into  the  very  jaws  of  the  all-de¬ 
vouring  Moloch — -as  if  a  miracle  were  to  be  wrought  for 
their  deliverance.  They  constantly  and  pertinaciously 
led  them  into  temptation,  at  the  very  period,  perhaps, 
when  they  were  assiduously  teaching  them  to  offer  up  to 
their  Heavenly  Father,  morning  and  evening,  on  bended 
knee,  the  beautiful,  significant  and  most  appropriate 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOUKSES  AND  ESSAYS.  523 


petition — “lead  us  not  into  temptation,  but  deliver  us 
from  evil.” 

They  made,  and  bought,  and  sold,  and  drank  whisky — 
as,  only  a  few  years  previously,  they  stole,  and  bought, 
and  sold  African  men,  women,  and  children— without 
remorse — without  one  compunctious  visiting  of  con¬ 
science — without  a  single  misgiving  of  spirit,  or  faltering 
of  tongue,  even  when  engaged  in  prayer  to  a  God  of 
justice,  purity  and  mercy,  or  when  seated  at  the  com¬ 
munion  table  and  commemorating  the  dying  love  of 
their  benevolent  and  compassionate  Saviour,  or  when  in 
the  pulpit,  proclaiming  peace  on  earth,  and  good  will  to 
men. 

How  or  wherefore,  Christian  men,  with  the  Bible  of 
eternal  truth  and  equity  in  their  hands,  should  have 
remained  thus  blinded  and  besotted  for  centuries,  is  a 
problem  which  human  philosophy  can  never  solve.  But 
now,  upon  both  these  enormities — namely,  the  slave- 
trade  and  the  whisky-trade,  the  light  of  Heaven  has 
beamed:  and  wo — wo — wo — to  the  monster  who  shall 
henceforth  dare  to  infringe  the  law  of  righteousness  and 
temperance  which  this  heavenly  light  has  enabled  all  to 
read  and  to  understand ! 

If  the  political  economist — the  patriot  statesman— 
the  sagacious  politician — were  consulted  on  this  subject 
— they  would  tell  us  that  the  millions  annually  ex¬ 
pended  on  ardent  spirit  by  the  consumer — that  is,  by 
the  community  at  large,  is  so  much  dead  loss  to  the 
nation — as  much  lost  as  if  the  whole  had  been  buried  in 
the  ocean.  And  this,  they  would  prove  beyond  the 


524 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


possibility  of  doubt  or  mistake.  I  think  it  can  be  made 
as  evident  as  that  two  and  two  are  equal  to  four;  I 
submit  the  case  of  an  individual;  I  suppose  him  to 
purchase  a  gallon  of  whisky  per  week,  for  his  own  con¬ 
sumption,  at  the  price  of  fifty  cents.  I  suppose  it  more¬ 
over  to  be  conceded,  that  the  drinking  of  said  whisky 
w7ill  not  add  to  his  wealth  or  welfare  in  any  degree.  If 
so,  then  he  might  burn  or  throw  away  his  gallon  of 
whisky- — or  he  might  have  buried  his  fifty  cents  in  the 
earth  or  the  ocean — without  being  a  whit  the  poorer 

than  if  he  had  drunk  his  whisky.  What  is  thus  true 

* 

of  one  individual  in  reference  to  a  single  gallon  or  a 
single  gill  of  spirit,  is  equally  true  of  every  individual, 
and  of  all  the  individuals  who  compose  the  nation,  in 
reference  to  every  portion  and  to  the  whole  amount  of 
distilled  liquors  consumed.  Every  man  may  throw  away 
his  own  share — the  whole  nation  may  throw  away  the 
sum  total  of  these  shares, — without  detriment  to  the 
individual  or  the  nation, — consequently,  the  money 
might  just  as  well  have  been  thrown  away,  before  it 
was  thus  exchanged  for  whisky,  and  the  loss  would  be 
no  greater  in  the  one  case  than  in  the  other.  That  is, 
the  loss  would  be  equal  in  both  cases.  It  would  be 
absolute — total- — irremediable. 

I  am  speaking  now  simply  of  the  consumer — the 
drinker  of  whisky.  The  annual  consumption  of  whisky, 
or  of  ardent  spirits  in  various  forms,  was  estimated  at 
fifty  or  sixty  millions  of  gallons— and  to  exceed  in  value 
fifty  millions  of  dollars.  I  shall  not  stop  to  ask  wThat 
good  these  millions  might  be  made  to  achieve.  Nor  do 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


525 


I  now  take  into  the  account  the  train  of  positive 
evils  which  the  consumption  of  whisky  always  in¬ 
flicts.  I  have  enlarged  on  these  already.  I  assert 
that  every  dollar  expended  in  this  nation  on  ardent 
spirit  by  the  consumer,  is,  to  all  intents  and  purposes, 
annihilated.  The  whole  might  as  well  be  expended 
on  gunpowder  to  be  exploded  in  an  instant  —  and 
infinitely  better,  if  the  moral  and  physical  effects  be 
considered. 

Who  then  is  benefited?  The  manufacturer  and  vender 
— apparently.  Granted,  for  a  moment.  How  are  they 
benefited?  By  contributing  directly  to  the  impoverish¬ 
ment,  degradation,  infamy  and  death  of  their  brothers 
and  sons  and  wives  and  daughters  and  neighbours  and 
fellow-citizens.  By  ministering  and  pandering  to  human 
vice  and  folly  and  ignorance.  By  converting  a  peaceful, 
virtuous,  thriving  community  into  a  herd  of  wallowing 
swine — of  idle  vagabonds  and  paupers — of  swindlers  and 
cut-throats.  Is  this  an  occupation  which  an  honourable 
man  should  live  by — or  which  a  Christian  man  would 
choose  to  die  by?  But  the  political  economist  would 
readily  satisfy  even  this  class  that  their  capital  might  be 
much  more  profitably  invested,  as  soon  as  the  people 
should  cease  to  crave  and  to  drink  ardent  spirit.  The 
people  would  then  be  temperate, — and,  probably,  indus¬ 
trious  and  frugal, — they  would  earn  or  produce  more 
than  formerly,  and  consequently  would  have  more,  in 
addition  to  the  sum  previously  wasted  on  whisky,  where¬ 
with  to  purchase  the  comforts  and  necessaries  of  life.  It 
is  the  interest  of  all  therefore  to  make  the  people  sober — 


526 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


and  then  the  whisky  traffic,  except  for  the  arts  and  medi¬ 
cine,  will  be  at  an  end. 

Suppose  now  that  all  the  people  in  Davidson  County 
should,  from  this  day  forward,  cease  to  drink  ardent 
spirit — would  our  merchants,  or  farmers,  or  mechanics 
be  losers  by  their  abstinence?  They  would,  to  a  man, 
be  immense  gainers. 

The  poor  labourer  who  now  goes  regularly  to  the 
grocery  for  his  quart  of  whisky,  which  is  often  never 
paid  for,  would  then  go  for  twice  as  much  coffee,  tea, 
sugar  and  other  articles,  as  he  at  present  allows  his 
family— and  he  would  pay  punctually  for  the  whole 
into  the  bargain.  And  so  of  the  rest.  The  distiller, 
of  course,  would  betake  himself  to  some  more  honest, 
lucrative  and  useful  employment.  Industry  and  capital, 
if  skilfully  directed,  will  always  create  both  a  market 
and  a  supply.  The  dealer  in  whisky  is  no  more  essen¬ 
tial  to  the  pecuniary  well-being  of  a  community,  than  is 
the  gambler,  the  libertine  or  the  pirate. 

Such  is  an  outline  of  the  political  economist’s  lecture. 

Now  what  says  the  planter  or  farmer,  who  cultivates 
the  soil  by  slaves  or  hired  labourers?  Does  he  not  get 
along  better  without  whisky  than  with  it?  Thousands 
have  answered,  emphatically,  yes.  Manufacturers,  me¬ 
chanics,  merchants,  who  have  no  inebriating  liquor  on 
their  premises,  have  affirmed  the  same  thing.  Captains 
and  masters  of  ships  and  steamboats  have  discovered 
that  whisky  is  the  very  worst  commodity  which  they 
can  put  aboard  their  vessels ;  and  hundreds  navigate 
seas  and  oceans,  and  lakes  and  rivers  without  it.  Mili- 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


527 


tary  chieftains  too  are  beginning  to  acknowledge  that 
soldiers  may  perform  their  duty  in  the  camp,  or  face  the 
enemy  in  battle,  without  the  stimulus  of  whisky  much 
more  efficiently  than  with  it.  Even  lawyers  and  divines 
seem  pretty  generally  convinced  that  they  can  counsel 
and  plead  and  write  and  preach  more  to  the  benefit  and 
edification  of  their  clients  and  hearers,  by  observing  than 
by  violating  the  rules  of  the  most  rigid  temperance. 
Nay,  publicans  and  grocers  have,  in  many  instances, 
succeeded  in  pursuing  their  vocations  and  in  maintaining 
their  establishments  upon  the  same  principle. 

The  experiment,  indeed,  has  been  tried,  I  believe,  by 
some  of  every  class  and  description  of  men  in  the  world 
— and  I  have  yet  to  learn  that  a  single  failure  or  disap¬ 
pointment  has  been  witnessed. 

In  our  country,  the  change  already  effected,  if  it  had 
been  predicted  ten  years  ago,  would  have  been  pro¬ 
nounced  impossible  without  a  miracle.  It  is,  indeed, 
the  most  astonishing  moral  phenomenon  ever  witnessed 
in  our  world.  Temperance  associations  have  achieved 
not  only  vastly  more  than  they  anticipated,  but  what 
they  never  dared  to  hope  for.  They  have  reclaimed 
hundreds  of  actual  drunkards.*  This  is  like  raising 
the  dead  to  life.  Could  I  paint  the  joy,  the  gratitude, 
the  ecstacy  of  one  poor,  disconsolate,  broken-hearted, 
lovely  wife,  on  beholding  the  wretched  degraded  hus¬ 
band.  of  her  youthful  affections  restored  to  himself  again, 

*  “  Seven  hundred  confirmed  sots  are  reported  as  restored  to  re¬ 
spectable  society  in  two  years;”  three  thousand  reclaimed.  (See  last 
Report  for  1831.) 


528 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


and  with  renovated  spirit,  striving,  by  every  kindly 
attention  and  assiduous  effort,  to  atone  for  the  past  and 
to  insure  her  future  happiness — you  would,  by  acclama¬ 
tion,  declare,  that,  were  this  the  only  result,  temperance 
societies  had  been  amply  and  gloriously  rewarded  for  all 
their  labours. 

But  thousands  who  were  in  the  broad  road  to,  and 
upon  the  very  verge  of,  intemperance,  have  been  arrested 
and  saved.  While  hundreds  of  thousands  of  our  youth 
have  been  or  will  be  spared  the  danger  of  even  a  partial 
encounter  with  the  foe.  The  wily  tempter  will  never 
approach  them — strong  drink  will  never  entice  them. 
Their  fathers  and  neighbours  have  banished  it  from 
their  tables  and  houses.  Many  towns  and  villages 
have  exterminated  the  monster  utterly  from  their  limits. 
Others  have  abated  three -fourths,  or  one -half,  or  one- 
third  of  the  evil.  The  whisky  despotism  is  everywhere 
yielding  to  the  omnipotence  of  public  opinion — and  like 
every  other  species  of  despotism,  it  must  speedily  disap¬ 
pear  forever  from  the  land  of  the  enlightened,  the  united, 
and  the  brave. 

Yes,  enlightened  and  united,  we  can  conquer  any  and 
every  foe.  Say  but  the  word,  and  we  are  freemen.  The 
galling,  damning  yoke  of  whisky  bondage  shall  not  be 
endured  another  hour — if  we  but  resolve  it.  Here  is  a 
cause  in  which  all  persons  of  every  political  party,  of 
every  religious  sect,  of  every  age  and  rank  and  sex;  may 
cordially  co-operate  for  their  own  and  for  the  public  weal. 

By  voluntary  association  we  can  do  what  we  please. 
We  can  put  down  every  sort  of  visible  and  offensive  vice. 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


529 


We  can  encourage  every  species  of  valuable  industry,  and 
render  tlie  practice  of  any  virtue  fashionable  and  popular. 
We  need  not  the  strong  arm  of  arbitrary  power  to  coerce 
the  refractory  or  the  unprincipled.  Let  those  who  give 
the  tone  to  public  opinion  in  all  things,  set  the  example 
of  self-denial,  of  universal  and  total  abstinence  from 
ardent  spirits,  and  the  rest  of  the  people  will  cheerfully 
follow  it.  . 

It  will  be  perceived  that  I  have  hitherto  limited  my 
condemnatory  remarks  exclusively  to  distilled  liquors. 
It  was  necessary  that  the  advocates  of  the  temperance 
reformation  should,  at  the  outset,  draw  a  clear  and  defi¬ 
nite  line  of  demarcation  between  certain  kinds  of  intoxi¬ 
cating  liquids;  that  there  might  be  no  ground  for  mistake 
or  uncertainty  or  evasion  or  plausible  hostility,  in  regard 
to  this  grand  enterprise.  They  therefore  wisely  determ¬ 
ined  to  aim  at  the  entire  banishment  or  prohibition  only 
of  spirituous  or  distilled  liquors,  in  contradistinction  to 
all  sorts  of  fermented  liquors,  such  as  wine,  beer  and 
cider — leaving  the  disposition  of  the  latter  to  the  sound 
discretion  and  enlightened  conscience  of  every  individual. 
The  former,  it  was  well  ascertained,  were  never  bene¬ 
ficial,  but  always  deleterious,  and  therefore  might  and 
ought  to  be  forever  expunged  from  the  list  of  lawful 
drinks.  It  was  moreover  ascertained  that  fermented 
liquors,  where  ardent  spirits  do  not  abound,  or  are  not 
in  general  use,  never  occasion  or  increase  the  evil  of 
intemperance.  Thus,  for  instance,  in  countries  where 
wine  is  the  common  beverage  of  the  people,  intoxication 
seldom  occurs,  and  habitual  drunkenness  is  never  wit- 
vol.  in.— 34 


530 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


nessed.  It  remains  to  be  seen  whether  beer  and  cider 
may  be  used  as  freely  and  as  safely  in  Britain  and 
America  as  is  wine  in  France  and  Italy.  (That  is,  after 
ardent  spirits  shall  be  excluded  from  the  former — for 
wherever  ardent  spirit  is  easily  procurable,  there,  ale  and 
cider,  and  even  wine,  seem  to  serve  rather  as  incentives 
to  its  use  than  as  a  substitute.)  But  if  not,  and  if  our 
people  must  and  will  have  something  stronger  and  more 
exhilarating  than  pure  wrater,  there  are  two  modes  of 
gratifying  their  taste  or  their  caprice,  without  resorting 
to  the  distillery. 

In  the  first  place : — The  lighter  and  cheaper  wines 
of  the  South  of  Europe  may  be  imported  in  almost  any 
quantity  for  which  there  shall  be  a  demand;  and  if  the 
present  high  duty  were  removed,  as  it  ought  to  be,  and  as 
Mr.  Jefferson  long  ago  recommended  that  it  should  be  for 
this  very  purpose,  then  every  poor  man  might  have  his 
bottle  of  wine  at  less  cost  than  a  bottle  of  whisky. 

In  the  second  place: — The  culture  of  the  vine  among 
ourselves,  (and  we  might  cultivate  a  hundred  different 
species  of  the  grape,  both  native  and  foreign,  with  per¬ 
fect  ease,)  would  soon  enable  us  to  manufacture  good 
wine  to  any  desirable  extent — so  that  it  might  become 
as  plentiful  and  cheap  as  cider  is  in  the  Northern  and 
Middle  States. 

I  would  not  be  understood  as  encouraging  the  use  of 
wine,  or  as  expressing  any  opinion  on  the  subject.  I  am 
aware  that  many  of  our  best  citizens  and  ablest  physi¬ 
cians  denounce  it  utterly;  and  all  agree  that  the  wines 
of  traffic — such  as  the  merchants  usually  furnish — are  so 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


531 


thoroughly  adulterated  and  brandied  as  to  deserve  little 
more  favour  than  is  shown  to  ordinary  spirit. 

But  I  purposely  wave  all  discussion  and  all  details 
on  this  difficult,  complex,  and  much  controverted  topic. 
Pure  wine,  temperately  used,  it  would  seem,  cannot  be 
absolutely  prohibited  as  unlawful,  because  it  is  counte¬ 
nanced  in  Scripture  and  by  the  example  of  our  Saviour. 
I  think  we  are  on  the  safe  side,  so  long  as  we  do  not 
transcend  the  limits  which  the  Deity  himself  has  pre¬ 
scribed —  and  temperance  societies  do  not  presume  to 
enjoin  or  to  require  any  more. 

It  is  true,  indeed,  that  the  use  of  ardent  spirits  is  not 
forbidden  in  the  Bible — but,  then,  the  art  of  distillation 
is  a  comparatively  modern  invention.  The  canon  of 
Scripture  was  completed,  probably,  a  thousand  years 
before  it  was  practised.  But  as  the  use  of  everything 
hurtful  to  health,  reason,  morals,  life,  reputation  or 
estate,  to  ourselves  or  others,  is  expressly  and  posi¬ 
tively  prohibited,  we  shall  in  vain  recur  to  Scripture 
for  even  the  shadow  of  a  plea  in  behalf  of  ardent 
spirit. 

No  vice  is  more  pointedly  condemned  in  the  Bible 
than  drunkenness.  Of  course,  whatever  directly  leads 
or  tempts  to  this  fatal  vice  is  interdicted  by  the  same 
high  and  infallible  authority.  If  any  man  should  dis¬ 
cover  that  the  use  even  of  the  weakest  wine  was  grad¬ 
ually  inducing  the  habit  of  excessive  indulgence,  he 
ought  instantly  to  renounce  it  altogether.  This  is  the 
doctrine  of  common  sense,  of  natural  religion,  no  less 
than  of  revelation.  The  habitual  use,  then,  of  pure 


532 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


unadulterated  wine,  or  of  any  similar  fermented  liquor, 
may  be  innocent,  because  harmless,  in  one  case,  and 
sinful,  because  pernicious,  in  another. 

Again,  if  the  use  of  wine  by  any  individual,  should 
prove  the  occasion  of  stumbling  or  offence  to  others,  then 
he  ought  immediately  to  abstain.  Thus,  the  Apostle 
Paul  declared  that  he  would  never  eat  flesh,  if  it  should 
give  offence — that  he  would  deny  himself  in  all  things 
indifferent  or  innocuous  rather  than  offend  his  weaker 
brethren.  “  Wherefore  (says  he)  if  meat  make  my 
brother  to  offend,  I  will  eat  no  flesh  while  the  world 
standeth,  lest  I  make  my  brother  to  offend.”  (1  Cor. 
viii.  13.) 

And,  in  the  same  spirit,  he  writes  in  another  epistle: 
“Let  us  therefore  follow  after  the  things  which  make  for 
peace,  and  things  wherewith  one  may  edify  another. 

“  For  meat  destroy  not  the  work  of  God.  All  things 
indeed  are  pure ;  but  it  is  evil  for  that  man  who  eateth 
with  offence. 

“It  is  good  neither  to  eat  flesh,  nor  to  drink  wine,  nor 
anything  whereby  thy  brother  stumbleth,  or  is  offended, 
or  is  made  weak.”  (Rom.  xiv.  19,  20,  21.) 

If  this  simple,  plain  and  equitable  apostolic  rule  were 
universally  observed,  as  it  ought  to  be,  much  idle  specu¬ 
lation,  and  much  practical  evil  would  be  prevented.  It 
is  undoubtedly  a  fundamental  principle  in  the  code  of 
Christian  ethics;  and  can  never  be  departed  from  with¬ 
out  guilt  and  danger.  And  if  the  rule  apply  to  things 
otherwise  indifferent  or  innocent — to  wine  and  meat  for 
example — much  more  will  it  apply  to  things  doubtful  or 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  533 


generally  noxious — -and  particularly  to  ardent  spirit.  For 
I  venture  to  affirm,  that,  at  the  present  day,  enlightened 

i 

as  is  the  public  mind  on  the  subject,  no  Christian  could 
make  use  of  it  without  exciting  suspicion  as  to  the  sin¬ 
cerity  of  his  profession,  or  without  giving  countenance 
by  his  practice  to  all  the  multiform  and  horrid  abuses 
and  calamities  of  the  grossest  inebriation.  Let  a  min¬ 
ister  of  the  gospel,  or  any  church  officer  or  member,  be 
seen  occasionally,  and  with  the  most  guarded  and  scru¬ 
pulous  moderation,  to  drink  rum  or  brandy — and  will 
not  his  example  be  urged  and  pleaded,  and  triumphantly 
paraded  before  the  world,  by  every  sot  and  by  every 
habitual  temperate  drinker  in  the  neighbourhood;  as  a 
sufficient  excuse  and  apology  for  any  excess? 

“  Wo  to  that  man  by  whom  the  offence  cometh.” 

In  this  warfare,  as  in  most  others,  there  is  no  neutral 
ground — no  half-way  stopping  house.  Societies  indeed 
have  been  organized  for  the  avowed  purpose  of  moderate 
or  temperate  drinking — One-glass-in-the-day  societies,  to 
regulate  the  evil,  and  to  keep  men  within  reasonable  and 
salutary  bounds.  But  what  have  these  accomplished? 
Confessedly,  in  all  cases,  they  have  played  into  the 
hands  of  the  common  adversary- — have  encouraged  and 
promoted  the  cause  of  intemperance — and  consequently 
have  done  unspeakable  mischief,  and  no  manner  of 
good.  For  “let  it  be  engraven  upon  the  heart  of  every 
man,  that  the  daily  use  of  ardent  spirits,  in  any  form,  or 
in  any  degree,  is  intemperance.”  And  that  habitual 
tippling  is  worse  even  than  periodical  drunkenness. 

The  conclusion  then  at  which  we  arrive  is  this — that, 


534 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


in  reference  to  all  fermented  liquors,  every  individual 
must  be  left  to  that  conscientious  discretion,  which  a 
thorough,  prayerful  and  honest  study  of  sacred  scrip¬ 
ture  will  enable  him  to  exercise,  in  view  of  his  own 
and  his  neighbour’s  welfare,  both  here  and  hereafter — 
that  distilled  liquors  can  never  be  safely  or  innocently 
used,  and  therefore  ought  to  be  universally  abandoned — 
that  total  abstinence  is  the  only  effectual  remedy  or 
preventive  of  intemperance,— that,  as  public  sentiment 
has  hitherto  sustained  and  cherished  the  enormity,  so 
public  sentiment  alone  can  put  it  down.— And  hence, 
that  it  is  the  duty  of  all  men  without  exception  to  come 
forward  and  publicly  declare  their  fixed  unalterable 
purpose  to  abstain  from  ardent  spirit  themselves,  and  to 
exert  their  utmost  influence  to  prevail  on  others  to  follow 
their  example,  and  to  co-operate  with  them  in  this 
philanthropic  and  holy  enterprise. 

Further,  if  our  premises  be  tenable,  then  another 
result  is  equally  obvious  and  indisputable:  namely- — 
That  it  is  unlawful  to  manufacture,  or  to  traffic  in 
ardent  spirits  for  the  purposes  of  ordinary  consumption. 
I  see  no  way  of  evading  or  denying  this  conclusion.  It 
is  as  clear  and  direct  and  legitimate  a  deduction  as  was 
ever  derived  from  any  established  or  admitted  data — or 
as  can  be  attained  by  any  inductive  process  within  the 
sphere  of  moral  or  logical  or  scriptural  argumentation. 
It  would  not  become  me,  nor  would  it  comport  with  my 
feelings,  to  employ  harsh  or  abusive  or  censorious  lan¬ 
guage  in  reference  to  a  large  and  respectable  class  of  my 
fellow-citizens,  whose  occupation  is  thus  arraigned  and 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


pronounced  unlawful.  Seven  years  ago,  I  was  as  much 
in  darkness  and  error  on  this  whole  subject  as  any  of 
my  hearers  probably  are  at  this  moment.  Whether,  if 
my  private  interest,  —  my  means  of  procuring  a  liveli¬ 
hood, — had  seemed  opposed  to  my  duty  in  this  respect 
and  had  blinded  my  moral  vision,  I  should  yet  have 
discerned  the  light  and  yielded  to  the  force  of  truth,  is 
more  than  I  dare  affirm. — For  the  heart  is  deceitful 
above  all  things,  and  strangely  bent  on  finding  or  in¬ 
venting  excuses  and  salvos  for  any  practice  or  vocation 
which  promises  immediate  worldly  advantage.  I  there¬ 
fore  make  great  allowance  for  the  tardy  growth  of 
conviction  in  the  mind,  when  such  conviction  must 
necessarily  lead  to  personal  sacrifice  or  pecuniary  loss. 

It  is  easy  for  the  perfectly  abstemious  man  to  de¬ 
nounce  the  whisky  drinker — it  is  easy  for  the  jurist 
and  the  divine  to  condemn  the  distiller  and  the  retailer 
of  whisky — because  the  former  have  nothing  to  sur¬ 
render,  no  self-denial  to  practise — whilst  the  latter  must 
relinquish  a  favourite  gratification  or  a  lucrative  busi¬ 
ness.  These  and  similar  considerations  should  admon¬ 
ish  the  friends  of  reformation  to  exercise  great  for¬ 
bearance,  moderation,  sympathy  and  charity  towards  all 
whose  habits  or  interests  are  to  be  affected  by  the 
changes  which  they  recommend. 

But,  having  been  providentially  permitted  myself  to 
behold  something  of  the  ravages  and  horrors  occasioned 
by  ardent  spirit — having  been  constrained  by  evidence 
irresistible  to  believe  that  it  can  never  be  used  without 
abuse — and  therefore  that  no  man  ought  to  contribute 


536 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


directly  or  indirectly  to  its  production  or  dissemination 
among  the  people — I  should  he  chargeable  with  coward¬ 
ice  or  hypocrisy  were  I  to  be  silent  or  ambiguous  on  this 
head.  So  deep  rooted  are  my  own  convictions  of  duty, 
that  were  every  man  in  this  assembly  my  father,  brother, 
or  intimate  friend,  and  were  all  engaged  in  this  unright¬ 
eous  traffic,  I  could  not  forbear  to  testify  against  them, 
as  I  now  do— solemnly,  firmly,  decidedly — but,  at  the 
same  time,  urging  them  with  the  most  affectionate  im¬ 
portunity,  to  give  the  subject  a  candid  and  thorough 
investigation. 

Let  me  put  the  case  to  any  hither  in  this  house— 
whether,  if  he  could  foresee  that  his  beloved  son  would, 
if  spared,  inevitably  become  a  grovelling,  habitual, 
reckless  sot,  he  would  not  prefer,  were  the  option 
allowed  him,  that  this  son  should  fall  suddenly,  while  yet 
in  all  the  blooming  beauty  and  cheering  promise  of 
youthful  innocence,  by  the  dagger  of  the  ruthless  assas¬ 
sin?  I  think  I  can  answer  for  him,  as  I  would  answer 
for  myself.  Now,  in  the  present  state  of  our  society, 
every  youth  is  liable  to  a  destiny  more  to  be  deplored, 
more  dreadfully  shocking  to  parental  affection,  than  even 
assassination  itself.  He  may  be  made  a  sot !  Banish 
the  tempter  from  our  society,  and  no  father  will  dread 
such  a  catastrophe. 

Why — suffer  me  to  ask — do  we  tolerate  the  scores 
and  hundreds  of  licensed  taverns,  groceries  and  grog¬ 
shops,  which  everywhere  meet  the  eye,  only  to  allure 
and  destroy  the  young  and  the  unwary?  Is  one  of  them 
useful  or  necessary?  —  useful  or  necessary,  I  mean, 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


r,  9  7 
Oo  i 


merely  as  furnishing  ardent  spirit  to  the  people  ?  Do 
travellers  need  poison  by  way  of  refreshment?  Is  this 
the  kind  of  entertainment  which  we  provide  by  law  for 
the  stranger  and  the  wayfaring  man  when  they  come 
within  our  gates  ?  The  palpable  absurdity  and  the 
tremendous  iniquity  of  this  whole  arrangement  will,  in 
a  few  years,  be  ranked  among  the  delusions  of  witch¬ 
craft,  and  the  inquisition,  and  the  slave-trade.  Posterity 
will  marvel  at  the  murderous  usages  which  our  Christian 
fathers,  as  well  as  this  enlightened  Christian  generation, 
have  so  long  and  so  blindly  sanctioned. 

It  used  to  be  currently  remarked  at  the  East,  that 
every  new  distillery  was  sure  to  raise  up  around  it  a 
host  of  miserable  drunkards;  and  that  a  very  consider¬ 
able  proportion  of  those  who  engaged  in  the  business  of 
manufacturing  or  selling  ardent  spirits,  sooner  or  later, 
became  sots  themselves.  I  have  known  men,  distin¬ 
guished  for  their  sobriety,  industry  and  apparent  piety, 
fall  a  sacrifice  to  intemperance,  in  a  few  years,  after  they 
had  eagerly  sought  to  better  their  fortunes  as  distillers 
or  tavern  keepers.  Such  cases  were  of  frequent  occur¬ 
rence  in  my  native  State;  and  many  an  amiable,  respect¬ 
able  and  even  wealthy  family  have  I  seen  in  mourning 
and  in  rags  from  this  fatal  pursuit  of  unhallowed  gain. 
The  fact  is,  that  “the  continued  habit  of  dealing  out 
ardent  spirits,  in  various  forms  and  mixtures,  leads  also 
to  frequent  tasting,  and  tasting  to  drinking,  and  drinking 
to  tippling,  and  tippling  to  drunkenness.”  Thus,  in  the 
retributions  of  a  righteous  Providence,  the  destroyer  of 
others  is  himself  destroyed,  and  by  his  own  instrument- 


538 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


ality.  He  is  impoverished  by  the  very  means  resorted 
to  for  wealth — and  by  which  he  had  impoverished  his 
neighbours.  Well  might  it  be  inscribed,  in  flaming  capi¬ 
tals,  on  the  door  of  every  distillery  and  grogshop — “This 
is  the  way  to  poverty  and  death!” 

How  emphatical  and  how  practically  just  is  the  de¬ 
nunciation  of  the  prophet: — “Wo  unto  him  that  givetli 
his  neighbour  drink,  that  puttetli  thy  bottle  to  him,  and 
makest  him  drunken  also,  that  thou  mightest  look  on 
their  nakedness.”  (Ilab.  ii.  15.) 

In  addition  to  all  these  facts  and  considerations,  I  beg 
the  Christian  to  ponder  well  the  law  of  Christ,  as  incul¬ 
cated  in  numerous  texts  and  passages  similar  to  the 
following. 

“Thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbour  as  thyself.”  (Matt, 
xix.  19.) 

“Whatsoever  ye  would  that  men  should  do  to  you,  do 
ye  even  so  to  them.”  (Matt.  vii.  12.) 

“To  him  that  knoweth  to  do  good,  and  doeth  it  not, 
to  him  it  is  sin.”  (James,  iv.  17.) 

“If  thy  right  eye  offend  thee,  pluck  it  out.”  “If  thy 
right  hand  offend  thee,  cut  it  off.”  (Matt.  v.  29,  30.) 

“For  what  shall  it  profit  a  man,  if  he  shall  gain  the 
whole  world,  and  lose  his  own  soul?  Or  what  shall  a 
man  give  in  exchange  for  his  soul?”  (Mark,  viii.  36,  37.) 

“Whether  therefore  ye  eat,  or  drink,  or  whatsoever  }7e 
do,  do  all  to  the  glory  of  God.”  (1  Cor.  x.  31.) 

Can  any  man,  who  believes  the  gospel,  or  who  feels 
disposed  to  conform  to  its  precepts,  justify  himself  before 
the  tribunal  of  his  own  conscience  for  continuing  another 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


539 


day  in  a  business  so  destructive  to  his  fellow-men,  and 
so  likely  to  bring  down  the  vengeance  of  Heaven  upon 
himself  and  his  family?  Can  he  pray  to  God  for  a  bless¬ 
ing  upon  his  traffic  in  ardent  spirits — now ,  since  its  proper 
character  has  been  fully  developed  and  exposed? 

But  the  law  of  Christianity  is  binding  on  all  men  to 
whom  it  has  been  promulgated,  whether  they  profess  to 
recognize  it  or  not. 

It  is  honourable  to  several  Christian  sects,  and  to 
many  individuals  of  all  sects,  that  they  have  subscribed 
to  the  law  of  temperance  without  reserve,  and  to  the 
utmost  extent  contended  for  by  temperance  associa¬ 
tions. 

And  here  I  cannot  forbear  to  add,  that  the  Quakers  or 
“ Friends ,  in  excluding  ardent  spirits  from  the  list  of  law¬ 
ful  articles  of  commerce,  have  done  themselves  immortal 
honour ;  and  in  the  temperance  of  their  families,  and 
their  thrift  in  business,  have  set  an  example  which  is 
worthy  the  admiration  and  imitation  of  all  the  churches 
in  our  land”  and  in  the  world. 

The  temperance  reformation,  which  originated  in  this 
country,  and  which  has  advanced  and  extended  with 
unparalleled  rapidity  into  every  State  and  section  of  the 
Union;  has  also  reached  the  adjacent  islands  and  colo¬ 
nies,  has  been  welcomed  upon  the  shores  of  Great  Britain, 
has  penetrated  into  the  interior  of  the  European  conti¬ 
nent,  has  found  friends  and  advocates  among  the  native 
islanders  of  the  Southern  Ocean,  and  bids  fair  speedily 
to  pervade  every  land  and  to  influence  every  people 
where  the  light  of  the  gospel  shines.  And  shall  we 


540  MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 

refuse  to  embark  in  this  glorious  cause,  or  deny  ourselves 
the  benefits  which  it  so  cheaply  proffers? 

“A  very  happy  illustration  was  given  of  the  catholic 
character  of  temperance  societies  at  the  formation  of  the 
Ulster  Temperance  Society,  (in  Ireland,  1829,)  when  six 
clergymen,  of  six  different  religious  persuasions,  enrolled 
their  names  as  members  at  the  head  of  the  list;  and  on 
the  committee  at  present  there  are  individuals  of  twelve 
different  religious  denominations.” 

Let  us  imitate  this  catholic  example  of  Christian  Ire¬ 
land.  Let  the  several  Christian  sects  of  Nashville,  while 
they  agree  to  differ,  and  to  differ  honestly  in  matters  of 
doctrine,  discipline  and  ceremonial,  cordially  unite  against 
the  common  enemy  of  all  religion  and  of  all  human 
happiness. 

Let  us  imitate  the  primitive  Christians,  who,  in  the 
purest  ages  of  the  church,  when  their  faith  was  literally 
tried  by  the  fire  of  persecution,  did  not  hesitate  to  form 
associations  to  discountenance  every  species  of  immo¬ 
rality,  and  to  fortify  and  sustain  each  other  in  the  prac¬ 
tice  of  virtue  and  of  duty;  or,  as  Pliny  writes,  respecting 
them,  to  his  imperial  master,  about  fifty  years  after  St. 
Paul’s  time,  they  were  accustomed  “to  bind  themselves  by 
cm  oath ,  not  to  the  commission  of  any  wickedness,  but 
that  they  would  never  falsify  their  word,  nor  deny  a 
pledge  committed  to  them  when  called  upon  to  re¬ 
turn  it.”* 

With  such  an  illustrious  precedent  for  our  guide,  we 
need  not  dread  the  charge  of  innovation,  or  of  attempt- 


*  Paley’s  Evid.,  p.  61. 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


541 


ing  a  work  of  supererogation,  when  we  voluntarily  asso¬ 
ciate  for  the  purpose  of  emancipating  ourselves,  our 
country,  and  our  posterity  from  the  odious  thraldom 
of  intemperance. 

How  beautiful  and  cheering  to  the  eye  and  the  heart 
of  humanity  and  patriotism  and  Christian  charity  would 
not  be  the  moral  aspect  of  this  favoured  and  growing 
city,  if  ardent  spirit  were  forever  excluded  from  our 
commerce  and  from  our  habitations? 

How  many  happy  mothers,  wives,  sisters,  daughters, 
would  not  be  assured  by  this  one  act,  which  we  are  now 
summoned  to  perform,  of  heroic  self-denial,  and  of  gen¬ 
erous  devotion  to  the  purest  affections  and  permanent 
felicity  of  those  whom  it  is  our  pride  and  our  honour 
to  love  and  to  protect? 

Ladies  too  have  often  been  directly  appealed  to  on 
occasions  like  the  present — and  I  believe  their  suffrage 
in  behalf  of  the  temperance  cause  has  never  been  with¬ 
held.  Would  they  exert  all  the  influence  which  they 
justly  possess  in  every  Christian  community,  they  would 
soon  constrain  the  lords  of  creation  to  walk  in  the  paths 
of  virtue  and  sobriety.  I  hope  they  will  not  be  held 
responsible  in  the  last  great  day  for  all  the  evil  which 
they  might  have  prevented. 

The  members  of  the  Tennessee  Temperance  Society 
have  agreed  and  promised  to  abstain  totally  from  the 
use  of  ardent  spirits  —  and  they  cordially  invite  others 
to  join  them  upon  the  same  condition.  This,  I  under¬ 
stand,  is  the  precise  object  of  our  present  meeting. 

Let  us,  then,  my  friends,  before  God  and  this  assem- 


542 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


bly,  declare  that,  henceforward,  we  will  touch  not,  taste 
not,  handle  not,  the  accursed  thing.  Let  us,  without 
fear  or  shame  or  hesitation,  add  our  names  to  the  hun¬ 
dreds  of  thousands  of  the  good  and  wise,  who,  in  every 
region  of  Christendom,  are  labouring  to  exterminate  this 
pestiferous  and  most  degrading  iniquity  from  the  face  of 
the  earth. 

This,  at  least,  will  be  one  of  the  few  transactions  of 
our  lives  which  we  shall  never  regret,  and  which  will 
not  aggravate  the  gloom  and  the  terrors  of  a  dying  bed. 


MISCELLANEOUS  ESSAYS. 


BANKS  — BROKERS  — USURY. 


A  SERIES  OF  FRAGMENTARY  THOUGHTS.* 


“  Wherefore  then  gavest  not  thou  my  money  into 
the  bank,  that  at  my  coming  I  might  have  required 
mine  own  with  usury  ?”  em  rpane^av,  (Luke,  xix.  23.) 
rpaTcetZa,  a  table ,  with  four  legs — the  table  of  a  money¬ 
changer — a  brokers  table  or  counter — a  broker’s  office 
or  bank,  where  money  was  deposited  and  loaned  out  on 
interest  or  usury. 

1.  Usury  or  interest.  The  law  of  Moses.  Opinion 
of  Aristotle.  Mohammed’s  prohibition.  The  canon 
law.  Usury  pronounced  a  mortal  sin  by  the  canon  lawr 
of  the  church. 

2.  Banks.  Their  origin  and  primitive  character. 
The  Jews  were  bankers,  brokers,  and  money-lenders, 
for  many  ages,  among  the  principal  cities,  after  their 
dispersion  from  J udea. 


*  This  and  the  following  article,  published  here  just  as  they  stand 
in  the  author’s  manuscript,  are  given  as  illustrations  of  his  method  of 
preparing  materials  for  his  extemporaneous  and  conversational  lec¬ 
tures.  The  reader  will  in  fact  find  many  of  these  little  fragmentary 
thoughts  wrought  out  and  incorporated  in  other  parts  of  his  writings. 
These  two  pieces  are  inserted  as  specimens  of  a  large  class  of  similar 
collections  of  facts  and  ideas,  arranged  evidently  with  a  view  to  be 
reproduced  in  a  lecture  or  course  of  lectures,  in  the  class  room  or 
before  a  public  audience. 

VOL.  hi. — 35 


(545) 


546 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


3.  Modern  Banks. 

4.  Bank  of  Venice,  established  in  1157  or  1171. 
Continued  to  prosper  until  destroyed  by  the  French  in 
1798.  It  was  a  bank  of  deposit  only — not  of  issue  or 
discount. 

5.  Barcelona,  1401.  Called  “  Table  of  Exchange.” 

6.  Genoa,  1407. 

7.  Amsterdam,  1609. 

8.  Hamburgh,  1619.  Plundered  by  Davoust ,  1813. 

9.  General  character  and  uses  of  Banks  of  Deposit. 

10.  Bank  of  England,  1693  or  1694.  Suspended  cash 
jiayments  from  1797  to  1823,  or  26  years.  This  was 
the  first  bank  of  issue,  discount,  circulation,  etc.,  upon 
the  modern  plan. 

11.  Scotland,  1695.  “Bank  of  Scotland.”  Another 
called  the  “Royal  Bank  of  Scotland,”  1727.  Still  an¬ 
other,  called  “The  British  Linen  Company,”  1746.  Ail 
other  banks  in  Scotland  are  private  copartnerships,  exist¬ 
ing  under  a  general  law,  and  managed  with  great  ability. 

12.  Bank  of  Vienna,  created  in  1703,  as  a  bank  of 
deposit  and  circulation.  Became  a  bank  of  issue  in 
1791. 

13.  Law’s  famous  Bank,  1716.  Its  true  character  at 
the  outset.  Became  the  “Royal  Bank,”  1718.  The 
precise  nature  of  the  fatal  change — both  of  name  and 
character. 

14.  North  America,  1781.  Commenced  operations  in 
January,  1782.  This  was  the  first  bank  in  America. 
Chartered  at  first  by  Congress ;  afterwards  by  Pennsyl¬ 
vania. — Expired  in  1813.  Rechartered. 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


547 


15.  First  United  States  Bank,  1791.  Expired,  March 
3,  1811. 

16.  Second  United  States  Bank,  1816.  Expired  March 
3,  1836.  Rechartered,  as  a  State  bank,  by  Pennsyl¬ 
vania.  Stock  or  shares  owned  by  women  and  orphans 
and  benevolent  institutions  to  the  amount  of  $5,223,800, 
at  the  time  of  its  utter  failure. 

17.  Bank  of  France,  1803. 

18.  Money.  Precious  metals.  Gold  and  silver,  coin 
and  bullion— neither  signs  or  representatives  nor  meas¬ 
ures  of  value.  Mere  commodities,  etc. 

19.  Exchanges.  How  affected  by  a  mere  metallic 
currency.  How  by  bills,  etc.  How  by  banks  and 
bankers.  The  broker’s  appropriate  vocation. — Useful 
and  necessary 

20.  Benefits  resulting  from  banks.  Evils,  do. 

21.  Public  and  private  banks.  In  Europe  and  Amer¬ 
ica.  The  history,  and  existing  facts. 

22.  Incorporations.  What  is  a  corporation  ?  A  body 
or  a  number  of  persons  associated,  according  to  law,  to 
do  precisely  what  any  individual  might  do  without  legal 
or  special  grant  from  the  government. 

23.  Are  banks  monopolies?  Who  created  them? 
Who  is  responsible  for  their  action  ?  Who  is  blame- 
wortlijr,  if  they  do  wrong?  The  legislature— the  gov¬ 
ernment — the  sovereign  people — to  be  sure. 

24.  Are  banks — incorporated  banks — to  be  regarded 
as  contracts?  If  so,  ought  they  not  to  be  fulfilled,  ac¬ 
cording  to  the  letter  and  spirit  of  the  bond,  even  if  they 
prove  bad  bargains  to  the  people  who  made  them  ? 


548  MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 

25.  How  is  a  bank  got  up  and  established  in  our 
country?  Some  curious  facts — illustrative,  etc. 

26.  Who  are  the  stockholders — the  permanent  bona 
fide  stock  or  shareholders — after  speculators  have  sold 
out?  Ought  their  rights  to  be  protected?  What  voice 
have  they  usually  in  the  management?  or  what  do  they 
know  about  the  concern? 

27.  The  directors.  In  order  to  the  safety  of  a  properly 
organized  bank,  the  directors  ought  to  manage  its  affairs 
as  the  mere  agents  of  the  stockholders  5  and  to  be  held 
responsible  for  every  violation  of  the  charter  or  perver¬ 
sion  of  its  funds.  They  ought  never  to  become  borrow¬ 
ers — directly  or  indirectly.  Their  business  is  to  lend — - 
not  to  borrow.  Pay  them  for  their  services — reduce 
their  number — anything,  rather  than  allow  them  steal¬ 
ings ,  under  any  name,  form,  guise  or  usage. 

28.  Secrets.  No  oaths  of  secrecy.  There  ought  to  be 
no  concealment — no  mystery — -no  favouritism. 

29.  Government  preferences — inexpedient  and  unjust 
—  as  in  cases  of  insolvent  or  bankrupt  debtors.  Why 
should  the  claims  of  government  be  satisfied  in  prefer¬ 
ence  to  those  of  the  widow  and  the  orphan? 

30.  It  is  just  as  right  and  proper  for  a  man  to  lend 
money  as  to  borrow;  and  it  ought  to  be  just  as  honour¬ 
able.  There  can  be  no  borrowers  without  lenders. 

31.  Advantages  to  the  labouring  classes,  afforded  by 
banks — both  as  borrowers  and  lenders.  How  shall  they 
best  dispose  of  their  small  earnings?  Whence  procure 
adequate  aid  when  most  needed?  Savings  banks  — 
Scotch  savings  banks. 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


549 


32.  The  free -banking  system  —  so-called  —  now  very 
popular  and  prevalent  in  many  States.  Based  on  Na¬ 
tional  or  State  debts — as  if  the  bonds  or  evidences  of 
such  debts  could  be  sold  for  cash,  at  any  moment,  in 
the  market,  at  rates  to  satisfy  all  demands,  etc.  Such 
banks  must  fail,  sooner  or  later. 

33.  The  only  legitimate  material  for  a  bank  is  gold 
and  silver — i.e.  cash,  or  current  money,  or  bullion — so 
that  every  promissory  note ,  payable  at  sight  to  bearer, 
should  truly  represent  the  sum  specified  on  its  face. 
Thus,  a  bank,  with  a  million  dollars  in  its  vaults,  might 
issue  paper  to  that  amount,  and  no  more.  Of  course, 
such  a  bank  would  not  increase  the  real  or  nominal 
capital  of  the  country  —  and  might  therefore  be  de¬ 
nounced  as  worthless.  Not  so,  however.  A  paper 
substitute  for  specie  would  afford  many  advantages, 
even  though  it  did  not  augment  the  actual  or  nominal 
amount  of  capital  or  current  money  by  a  single  dollar. 
1.  It  would  be  safer.  It  could  be  more  easily  and 
cheaply  transferred  from  place  to  place  —  as  by  mails, 
etc. — almost  without  cost.  The  transportation  of  gold 
and  silver  is  not  only  expensive,  but  always  hazardous, 
whether  by  land  or  water.  2.  The  loss  of  paper,  by  fire 
or  other  accident,  would  be  no  loss  to  the  public — but 
only  to  the  individual  holder  or  owner  of  such  paper. 
Bills  of  exchange  and  bank  bills  are  not  property — but 
only  evidences  of  property- — like  the  title-deeds  of  landed 
estates,  wrhich  may  be  lost  or  destroyed — while  the  lands 
remain  intact,  etc.  3.  When  gold  and  silver  are  lost  in 
the  ocean  or  lake  or  river  or  by  fire,  it  is  a  dead  loss,  not 


550  MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


only  to  the  actual  owner,  but  to  the  public,  to  the  com¬ 
munity,  to  the  world.  It  is  the  absolute  destruction  or 
annihilation  of  positive  value — of  actual  wealth — and  the 
nation  is  so  much  the  poorer  by  every  such  disaster.  If 
twenty  millions  of  American  gold  were  lost,  on  their  way 
to  Liverpool,  we,  as  a  nation,  would  be  the  poorer  by  that 
amount.  If  insured  in  Europe,  the  loss  would  fall  upon 
Eurone.  In  either  case,  the  whole  world  will  have  lost 
twenty  millions.  Individuals  are  the  immediate  and 
ostensible  sufferers,  it  is  true;  but  as  national  or  univer¬ 
sal  wealth  is  but  the  aggregate  of  individual  wealth,  so 
whatever  diminishes  the  one  must  equally  affect  the  other. 
Were  twenty  millions  of  paper  orders  or  promises  thus  lost, 
the  value  thus  represented  or  pledged  would  remain  in 
statu  quo — -just  as  before.  4.  Metallic  money  or  coin  is  not 
only  liable  to  loss  in  a  thousand  ways,  but  is  subjected 
to  constant  wear  and  tear  in  passing  from  hand  to  hand. 
Thus,  by  friction  alone,  the  coined  pieces  are  gradually 
worn  out,  or  greatly  diminished  in  value.  If  paper  were 
substituted  for  a  currency,  in  any  State,  exactly  equal  to 
the  cash  or  bullion  locked  up  in  the  State’s  strong  box 
for  its  redemption  on  demand,  what  benefits  might  not 
be  conferred  on  all  the  parties  concerned?  5.  Besides 
the  above  and  many  other  considerations — why  should 
there  ever  be  factitious  money  or  fictitious  capital?  Why 
should  anything  pass  as  money,  which  is  not  money,  and 
which  does  not  represent  money?  [I  do  not  object  to 
bank  bills  which  actually  represent,  or  pass  in  lieu  of, 
the  specie  always  on  hand.]  Most  of  the  commercial 
difficulties,  embarrassments,  convulsions  and  revolutions, 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


551 


which  have  occurred,  within  the  modern  banking  age, 
are  probably  owing  to  bank  agency  and  influence  in  some 
form  or  other.  Banks  expand  and  contract  their  issues 
and  accommodations,  oftentimes  arbitrarily,  capriciously, 
unwisely,  injudiciously,  ignorantly,  rashly,  wickedly. 
Every  genuine  commodity  in  the  market  is  injured  by 
the  appearance  of  any  counterfeit  article — so  long  as  the 
latter  can  be  made  to  pass  as  the  former.  The  counter¬ 
feit  might  drive  the  genuine  entirely  out  of  the  market. 
Thus  paper  dollars,  though  not  counterfeit  in  a  legal 
sense,  serve  the  purpose  just  as  well.  They  are,  in  gen¬ 
eral,  mere  additions  to  the  existing  specie  circulation — 
and  passing  everywhere  as  of  equal  value — dollar  for 
dollar;  thereby  gradually  diminishing  the  value  of  the 
real  dollar  by  every  additional  substitute — -until  the 
countrv  becomes  flooded  with  an  ocean  of  mere  nominal 
promises  to  pay,  etc. 

34.  Consider  the  differences  between  the  old  and  now 
obsolete  banks  of  deposit,  and  the  one  hinted  at  in  the 
last  article,  and  the  modern  banks  generally. 

35.  Most  banks  in  our  country  have  been,  and  proba¬ 
bly  still  are,  grossly  mismanaged.  What  shall  be  done 
with  them,  when  they  suspend  cash  or  specie  payments? 
This  is  oftentimes  a  difficult  and  complex  question  or 
problem.  Various  considerations  are  involved — ns, 

The  interests  of  stockholders — widows,  orphans,  etc. 

The  interests  of  the  note  or  bill  holders. 

The  interests  of  the  public — in  regard  to  all  branches 
of  industry,  etc. 


552 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


36.  Who  ought  to  fix  the  salaries  of  the  President, 
Cashier,  and  other  bank  officers? 

37.  Why  is  bank^aper  worth  anything  after  the  sus¬ 
pension  of  specie  payments?  It  may  be,  more  or  less, 
valuable  on  several  accounts  —  as,  debtors  to  the  bank 
will  be  eager  to  get  its  notes  for  payment,  and  thereby 
give  them  a  marketable  value;  its  other  available  means 
and  assets,  etc. 

38.  Remedies  for  vicious  banking — under  the  modern 
or  prevailing  system.  1.  Good  charters.  2.  Competent 
and  faithful  directors.  3.  Moderate  loans,  and  always  to 
trustworthy  parties.  4.  The  directory  to  be  made  respon¬ 
sible  for  the  judicious  management  of  the  bank.  5.  No 
director  or  other  officer  ever  to  be  allowed  to  borrow  for 
himself  or  friends.  6.  No  voting  by  proxy.  7.  No  oaths 
of  secrecy;  no  mysteries — or  bank  secrets.  8.  No  inter¬ 
ference  or  meddling  by  legislature,  or  any  government 
authorities— except,  according  to  law  and  the  charter, 
etc.  9.  The  rights  and  interests  of  the  stockholders  to 
be  sacredly  guarded,  protected,  and  advanced— as  prom¬ 
ised  in  the  charter,  etc. 

39.  Banks  of  New  England.  Banks  of  Scotland.  Best 
in  the  world.  Their  peculiar  features.  How  conducted. 
Their  uniform  success  and  usefulness. 

40.  Banks,  on  the  whole,  a  great  invention.  Have 
contributed  much  to  modern  civilization  — to  liberty, 
agriculture,  commerce,  manufactures,  intelligence,  moral¬ 
ity,  religion — [witness  poor  old  Scotland  again.] 


MAXIMS  —  SOPHISMS  —  DOGMAS  —  FALLACIES— 
THEMES— NOTHINGS— SUGGESTIONS ; 

OR,  MATERIALS  FOR  REFLECTION. 


1.  “How  can  you  and  Dr.  Erskine  be  such  friends?” 
was  a  question  put  to  an  ultra  convivial  Scottish  judge — 
“no  two  men  could  be  more  unlike  each  other.”  “Be¬ 
cause  he’s  an  honest  saint,  and  I’m  an  honest  sinner,” 
was  the  reply. 

2.  A  certain  French  lady,  in  a  dispute  with  her  sister, 
said:  “I  don’t  know  how  it  happens,  sister,  but  I  meet 
with  nobody  but  myself,  that  is  always  in  the  right” — - 
“il  n’y  a  que  moi  qui  a  toujours  raison.”  [Others  give  it 
thus:  “Je  ne  trouve  que  moi  qui  a  toujours  raison;”  or, 
“  Je  ne  vois  que  moi  qui  a  toujours  raison.”] 

3.  “To  the  victors  belong  the  spoils.”  ( Marcy .) 

4.  “Patriotism  is  the  last  refuge  of  a  scoundrel.”  {Dr. 
Johnson.) 

5.  “The  Church  of  Borne  is  infallible,  and  the  Church 
of  England  is  never  in  the  wrong.”  {Steele.) 

6.  The  Bomish  Church  says:  “You  must  not  think  for 
yourself,  but  take  our  creed.”  The  Protestant  Churches 
say:  You  must  think  for  yourself,  but  take  our  creed.” 

7.  “I  wish  popularity,  but  it  is  that  popularity  which 
follows ,  not  that  which  is  run  after;  it  is  that  popularity 

(553) 


554 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


which ,  sooner  or  later,  never  fails  to  clo  justice  to  the 
pursuit  of  noble  ends  by  noble  means.”  ( Mansfield .) 

8.  “How  rare  are  those  happy  times  when  men  may 
think  what  they  please  and  say  what  they  think.” 
( Tacitus .) 

9.  It  was  said  of  Andrew  Fletcher,  “He  would  have 
died  to  serve  his  country;  but  he  would  not  do  a  base 
thing  to  save  it.” 

10.  “Eank  is  but  the  guinea  stamp, 

The  man’s  the  gowd  for  a’  that.”  *  *  * 

“The  honest  man,  though  e’er  sae  poor, 

Is  king  o’  men  for  a’  that.”  (Burns.) 

11.  “The  people  are  prone  to  expect  too  much  of  the 
government. — The  government  has  enough  to  do  to  take 
care  of  itself.”  ( Van  Buren.) 

12.  “Pulchrum  est  benefacere  reipublicse:  etiam  bene 
dicere  haud  absurd um  est.”  ( Sallust ,  p.  3.) 

13.  “Homo  sum,  humani  nil  a  me  alienum  puto.” 
( Terence.) 

14.  “Seest  thou  a  man  diligent  in  his  business?  he 
shall  stand  before  kings;  he  shall  not  stand  before  mean 
men.”  (Pt'ov.  xxii.  29.) 

15.  “Virtue  alone  is  true  nobility.”  (Dry clen) 

16.  *  *  “stat  magni  nominis  umbra.”  (Lucan,  lib.  i. 
135.) 

17.  Ingenium  superat  vives. 

18.  “Had  I  but  served  my  God  with  half  the  zeal 

I  served  my  king,  he  would  not  in  mine  age 
Have  left  me  naked  to  mine  enemies.” 

(Wolsey,  in  Henry  VIII.) 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  555 

19.  *  *  *  *  “From  his  cradle, 

He  was  a  scholar,  and  a  ripe  and  good  one.” 

(Said  of  Wolsey ,  in  Henry  VIII.) 

20.  “The  possible  destiny  of  the  United  States  of 
America,  as  a  nation  of  a  hundred  millions  of  freemen, 
stretching  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific,  living  under 
the  laws  of  Alfred,  and  speaking  the  language  of  Shak- 
speare  and  Milton,  is  an  august  conception.”  ( Coleridge .) 

21.  “Tu  tua  fac  cures:  csetera  mitte  Deo.”  That  is, 
“Take  care  to  do  your  duty:  leave  the  rest  to  God.” 

22.  “Solitudinem  faciunt,  pacem  adpellant.”  ( Tacitus .) 

23.  “Opinionum  commenta  delet  dies;  naturae  judicia 
confirmat.” 

24.  “Veritas  nihil  veretur  nisi  abscondi.”  Truth  fears 
nothing  but  concealment. 

25.  “Beware  of  the  man  of  one  book.” 

26.  “If  ever  the  liberties  of  this  Republic  are  de¬ 
stroyed,  it  will  be  by  Romish  priests.”  [Lafayette.) 

27.  “Ubi  tres  ibi  Ecclesia.” 

28.  “Wherever  God  erects  a  house  of  prayer, 

The  Devil  always  builds  a  chapel  there.” 

[Be  Foe.) 

29.  “0  fortunati,  nimium,  sua  si  bona  norint.”  ( Virgil.) 

30.  “Here  lies  he  who  never  feared  the  lace  of  man.” 
(Said  the  Regent  Morton  at  the  grave  of  Knox.) 

31.  “For  what  purpose  did  he  consider  rivers  to  have 
been  created?”  [question  put  by  the  Duke  of  Bridgewater 
to  the  celebrated  engineer,  James  Brindley,  who  replied,] 
“Undoubtedly  to  feed  navigable  canals.” 

32.  “Ne  sutor  ultra  crepidam.”  “Qui  docet,  discit.” 


556 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


33.  “  Studium  sine  calamo  et  somnium.” 

34.  *  *  *  “nil  sine  magno 

Yita  labore  dedit  mortalibus.” 

(. Hot .  Sat.,  lib.  i.;  Sat.  9,  59.) 

35.  *  *  *  “Video  meliora  proboque, 

Deteriora  sequor.”  (Ovid,  Met.  7,  20.) 

36.  “ Maxima  debetur  pueris  reverentia.”  (Juvenal.) 

37.  “He  who  is  ignorant  of  foreign  languages,  is  igno¬ 
rant  of  his  own.”  (Goethe.) 

38.  Though  the  ass  may  make  a  pilgrimage  to  Mecca, 
yet  an  ass  he  will  come  back.  (Arabic  Proverb.) 

39.  King  James  I.,  in  his  “A  Counterblast  to  To¬ 
bacco,”  compares  the  smoke  of  tobacco  to  the  smoke  of 
the  bottomless  pit;  and  says  it  is  only  proper  to  regale 
the  devil  after  dinner. 

40.  “Go  and  see  with  your  own  eyes,”  “Quam  parva 
sapientia  regitur  mundus?”  said  Oxenstiern  to  his  son,  etc. 

41.  “The  very  worst  use  to  which  you  can  put  a  man 
is  to  hang  him.”  (John  Wilkes.) 

42.  There  is  nothing  that  succeeds  with  the  world  like 
a  success.  (French  proverb.) 

43.  “As  I  take  my  shoes  from  the  shoemaker,  and  my 
coat  from  the  tailor,  so  I  take  my  religion  from  the 
priest.”  (Goldsmith.) 

44.  “Fas  est  et  ab  hoste  doceri.” 

45.  “I  have  met  with  mechanics  in  the  first  societies 
in  Europe,  from  which  idlers  of  high  rank  are  excluded; 
and  was  once  introduced  by  a  coppersmith  to  the  inti¬ 
macy  of  a  duke.”  (Gouvernenr  Morris ,  by  Sparks.) 

46.  Burns,  Bloomfield,  Clare,  Hogg,  and  Allan  Cun- 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


557 


ningham. — “  These  all  fall  spontaneously  into  one  bright 
cluster,  which  we  may  call  the  Constellation  of  the 
Plough.”  (Gilfillan,  p.  390.) 

47.  All  is  fair  in  politics.  Which  means  that  men 
may  lie,  cheat,  etc.,  to  compass  any  political  end. 

48.  “ There  is  a  courageous  wisdom:  there  is  also  a 
false  reptile  prudence,  the  result  not  of  caution  but  of 
fear.”  (Burke,  vol.  4,  p.  337.) 

49.  The  end  sanctifies  or  justifies  the  means.  Not 
peculiar  to  the  Jesuits.  All  sects,  cliques,  and  parties 
practice  in  accordance  with  it. 

50.  Faith  is  not  to  be  kept  with  heretics,  nor  with  any 
who  differ  from  us  in  the  slightest  degree. 

51.  Slavery  is  unjust — therefore  to  be  immediately 
abolished — without  regard  to  consequences.  This  is  the 
ultraism  of  the  abolitionists. 

52.  Slavery  authorized  by  Scripture  and  by  the  prac¬ 
tice  of  all  ages;  and  therefore  a  righteous  institution,  and 
ought  to  be  maintained  and  perpetuated  in  our  country, 
as  both  a  constitutional  right  and  a  national  blessing. — 
This  is  the  ultraism  of  the  pro-slavery  party. 

53.  The  majority  govern.  “Vox  populi,  vox  Dei.” 
In  what  sense  true,  in  what  false. 

54.  Preachers  and  college  professors  apt  to  be  dogmat¬ 
ical,  as  well  as  some  lawyers,  politicians,  and  lecturers 
upon  all  sorts  of  themes  and  things. 

55.  Trial  by  jury.  Bad  in  theory,  good  in  practice. 
Works  better  than  it  promises. 

56.  Legislative  assemblies  ought  never  to  be  made 
electing ,  and  therefore  electioneering  bodies.  Judges, 


558 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


sheriffs,  attorneys,  county  clerks,  etc.,  had  better  be 
chosen  by  the  people  than  by  any  State  Legislature. 
The  British  Parliament,  American  Congress,  French 
House  of  Deputies,  do  not  elect— except  their  own  ser¬ 
vants  and  officers.  The  American  Senate  merely  con¬ 
firms  certain  executive  nominations.  Every  State  Legis¬ 
lature  elects  United  States  Senators.  Some  of  them 
choose  the  governors.  All  exercise  the  elective  function 
to  a  greater  or  less  extent.  Instead  of  being  a  purely 
law-malting ,  grave,  deliberative  council  of  sages,  each 
legislature  becomes  a  venal,  corrupt,  intriguing,  log¬ 
rolling ',  political  caucus ,  etc. 

57.  Results,  ends  or  objects,  often  agreed  upon,  or 
recognized  as  desirable,  by  all  men — while  they  differ 
and  dispute  about  the  ways  and  means  of  attaining 
them.  Thus,  (1.)  all  our  people  advocate  the  cause  of 
universal  education,  of  common  schools,  etc. — but  dis¬ 
agree  as  to  the  system  or  plan,  mode  of  support,  religious 
instruction,  sectarian  control,  Catholic,  Protestant,  infi¬ 
del,  etc.  (2.)  Same  of  internal  improvements — roads, 
canals,  etc. — whether  by  State  or  National  government — 
or  by  private  companies,  etc.  (3.)  Do.  about  banks,  cur¬ 
rency,  money,  usury,  etc.  (4.)  About  home  industry- 
domestic  manufactures — tariff — taxes,  etc. 

58.  History  of  the  New  England  system  of  education 
- — -of  schools  and  colleges.  Curious  and  worthy  of  special 
study.  At  the  outset,  the  support  of  both  schools  and 
religion  was  voluntary.  The  first  colonies  of  New  Eng¬ 
land  had  no  government  but  what  was  voluntary.  Reli¬ 
gion  and  education  formed  an  essential  part  of  their 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


559 


political  system.  Is  their  system  adapted  to  States 
which  have  grown  up  without  the  habit  of  self-taxation 
for  such  purposes?  Connecticut  School  Fund.  Whence 
obtained — how  managed.  Whether  beneficial  or  not — 
actual  condition  of  schools,  before  and  since,  etc. 

59.  A  national  debt,  a  national  blessing,  [benefit.] 
A  national  debt,  a  national  curse,  [burden  or  evil.] 
When  the  one,  and  when  the  other? 

60.  Ad  valorem  duties  or  taxes,  etc. 

61.  Free  trade.  A  capital  theory.  Never  attempted 
in  practice.  What  is  free  trade?  Freedom  from  all 
taxation,  or  hindrance  or  burden  of  any  sort.  Very  de¬ 
sirable,  no  doubt.  But  can  a  government  be  sustained 
without  a  revenue  from  taxes  of  some  kind?  If  not, 
why  exempt  the  commodities  of  international  commerce 
from  their  share  of  the  burden  rather  than  the  other 
descriptions  of  property  ? 

62.  Tariff.  The  nearest  approximation  to  free  trade 
practicable,  would  be  identity  of  charges,  duties  or  im¬ 
posts  among  the  nations  trading  with  each  other.  Thus, 
between  this  country  and  Great  Britain,  the  duties  on 
all  manufactured  articles — as  of  iron,  cotton,  wool,  flax, 
hemp,  wood,  glass,  leather,  paper,  tobacco,  silk,  books, 
etc., — ought  to  be  precisely  the  same,  when  imported 
into  either  from  the  other.  Is  such  the  fact  ?  England 
may  admit  the  raio  material  without  duty;  but  does 
she  admit  the  manufacture?  She  may  welcome  our  cotton- 
bales ;  but  will  she  take  our  muslins  and  calicoes?  If  not, 
then  there  is  no  reciprocity  or  fairness  in  the  arrange¬ 
ment.  Then  about  our  tobacco.  —  What  are  the  facts, 
and  the  questions  fairly  at  issue  ? 


560 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


Go.  Banks  so  associated  with  all  moneyed  transac¬ 
tions,  that  people  fancy  they  (the  banks)  creole  money, 
furnish  exchanges,  make  good  prices,  etc.,  at  pleasure. 

G4.  Privileges  taxable  in  Tennessee  and  some  other 
States.  What  are  privileges? 

Go.  Brokers.  Why  tax  them  as  if  they  were  a  nui¬ 
sance  ? 

GG.  Whisky  dealers.  Horse-racing.  Lotteries.  Gam¬ 
bling.  Legislation  thereupon. 

G7  Summum  jus  est  summa  injuria. 

or  interest  of  money  loaned.  How  far  and 
in  what  circumstances  to  be  regulated  by  law. 

69.  Judicial  oaths. 

70.  Militia  system. 

71.  Penitentiaries — lunatic  asylums. 

72.  Children  of  persons  imprisoned  for  crimes  are 
educated  in  Prussia  by  the  Government.  (See  Stowe.) 

73.  Charitable  institutions.  For  the  blind — the  deaf 
and  dumb — for  orphans — abandoned  females — houses  of 
industry,  refuge,  etc. 

74.  Motives  for  self-education;  how  to  be  accom¬ 
plished. 

75.  All  healthy,  industrious,  sober,  frugal,  honest 
parents  in  our  country,  could  or  can  educate  their  owm 
children.  And  they  would  do  so,  were  public  opinion 
or  the  State  to  furnish  an  adequate  motive.  For  ex¬ 
ample — suffer  no  man  to  vote,  to  practise  a  trade,  or  to 
marry,  who  cannot  read  and  write.  How  soon  would 
every  man  (of  twenty-one)  be  duly  qualified?  etc. 

76.  Religious  toleration — wrhat?  Equal  rights  to  all 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


561 


religionists — what  ?  Differences  in  this  respect  between 
us ,  and  all  other  countries.  Dissenters.  Can  there  be 
any  among  us? 

77.  The  clergy,  why  excluded  from  civil  office?  his¬ 
tory  of  this  exclusion,  and  the  reasons  of  it  in  the  States 
where  it  prevails.  Wherever  the  Church  of  England 
was  established  before  the  Devolution,  there  immediately 
after,  the  clergy  were  made  ineligible  to  office — as  in 
New  York,  Virginia,  etc.  The  new  States  followed  the 
example  of  their  several  mothers — as  Kentucky  of  Vir¬ 
ginia,  Tennessee  of  North  Carolina,  Alabama  of  Georgia, 
etc.  While  New  England,  New  Jersey  and  Pennsyl¬ 
vania  escaped  English  churchism ,  their  daughters  have 
been  like  them — so  that  ministers  of  the  gospel  are 
deemed  as  trustworthy  and  as  eligible  to  office  as  are 
tailors  or  rum  venders. 

78.  How  ought  the  different  religious  sects  to  regard 
and  to  treat  each  other?  How  can  perfect  liberty  of 
conscience  be  assured  to  all  the  people?  How  can  priest¬ 
craft  or  priest  power  be  regulated,  checked  or  controlled, 
so  as  not  to  be  arbitrary,  oppressive,  cruel  or  inquisi¬ 
torial?  Ought  Jews,  Romanists,  Moslems,  or  Mormons, 
or  Pagans  of  any  name — to  be  allowed  in  this  country  to 
prohibit  the  reading  of  the  Bible  by  their  grown-up 
children,  etc.? 

79.  Genius  or  peculiar  character  of  the  Ameri¬ 
can  Constitution  and  Government.  Without  a  model, 
example  or  parallel,  in  ancient  or  modern  times. 
Origin,  growth,  progress,  —  modifying  circumstances  in 

different  localities.  People  always  free,  and  self- 

vol.  in. — 36 


5G2 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


governing.  Habits  not  changed  by  the  revolution  of 

1776. 

80.  Federal  Constitution  designed  to  protect  from 
wrong  and  injustice  every  class  of  citizens  and  every 
individual  of  each — the  poor,  the  widow,  the  orphan, — 
and  to  promote  the  welfare  of  all  and  each. 

81.  Our  governments,  National  and  State,  calculated 
for  any  extent  or  extension  of  territory — for  the  volun¬ 
tary  accession  or  annexation  of  Mexico,  Cuba,  Canada, 
or  China . — Why  not? 

82.  Southern  chivalry.  Blustering  about  a  disso¬ 
lution  of  the  Union.  How  unlike  the  magnanimous 
patriots  of  the  glorious  Revolution!  Why  should  the 
South  threaten  the  North?  Which  could  do  the  other 
most  damage? 

83.  The  constitutional  remedy  for  all  grievances. 

84.  State  rights.  Has  any  one  of  our  States  ever  been 
an  independent  nation?  (Always  excepting  Texas.) 

85.  The  precise  cause  or  causes  of  the  American  Revo¬ 
lution — Taxation  and  Representation,  etc. 

86.  Our  Revolution  was  strictly  conservative.  Its  ob¬ 
ject  was  to  maintain  inviolate  our  inherited  constitu¬ 
tional  rights  and  franchises  as  Englishmen.  [All  the 
English  revolutions  or  rebellions  were  likewise  conserv¬ 
ative — as  of  Charles  I.  and  Cromwell,  the  Restoration  of 
Charles  II.,  of  William  and  Mary,  etc.] 

87.  History  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  race,  in  England  and 
in  America.  The  Normans,  and  all  others,  gradually 
absorbed  by  the  Saxons.  The  same  process  in  operation 
here.  Foreign  immigrants,  from  whatever  nation,  in  due 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


563 


time,  imbibe  the  spirit  of  the  dominant  race,  and  become 
good  Anglo-American  citizens. 

88.  Gratitude  is — “A  lively  sense  of  favours  to  be 
received.” 

89.  “Save  me  from  my  friends,  and  I  will  take  care 
of  my  enemies.” 

90.  Murder.  “Whosoever  hateth  his  brother  is  a  mur¬ 
derer:  and  ye  know  that  no  murderer  hath  eternal  life 
abiding  in  him.”  (1  John ,  iii.  15.) 

91.  American  Colonization  Society.  Liberia.  The 
transportation  of  free  negroes  to  Africa  will  effect  three 
good  objects.  1.  Our  own  country  will  be  rid  of  said 
negroes.  2.  They  will  themselves  be  placed  in  a  far 
better  position.  3.  Africa  may  be  civilized  and  Chris¬ 
tianized  by  their  agency. 

92.  Liberia.— The  only  republic  in  the  world  like  our 
own. 

93.  Cromwell — Washington — Moses.  Authors  of  great 
revolutions. 

94.  Fortunate  for  Africa,  that  her  besotted  children 
were  brought  hither  to  be  trained  and  qualified  for  free¬ 
dom,  self-government,  etc. 

95.  Fi  *ee  and  slave  labour  compared.  ( Smith  and  Say.) 

96.  Is  a  school  fund,  to  be  raised  by  taxation,  desira¬ 
ble?  were  it  even  practicable.  Would  not  an  annual  tax 
for  annual  use  be  preferable?  The  accumulation  of  large 
funds  for  future  generations,  of  very  dubious  policy. 
Connecticut  acquired  her  vast  school  fund  by  sale  of  the 
Western  Reserve.  Its  benefits  extremely  doubtful. 

7.  French  Republicanism.  Treatment  of  the  Arab 


5G4 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


chief,  Abd-el-Kader.  Why  not  sympathize  with  the  latter 
as  well  as  with  Kossuth  of  Hungary?  Why  not  denounce 
France  as  well  as  Austria? 

98.  American  Aristocracy.  What?  where?  At  the 
North ,  or  at  the  South ? 

99.  Negroes.  While  they  remain  in  our  country,  and 
live  among  us,  must  occupy  one  of  three  positions.  They 
must  be- — 1.  Our  superiors 5  or,  2.  Our  equals;  or,  3.  Our 
inferiors — socially  and  politically. 

100.  What  constitutes  a  great  man?  There  have  been 
great  poets,  great  orators,  great  warriors,  great  statesmen, 
great  artists,  etc.  But  where  are  the  great  men?  Wash¬ 
ington  was  a  specimen  of  true  greatness  as  a  man. 

101.  New  Constitutions  of  Tennessee  and  Indiana- 
compared  with  the  old. 

102.  Oliver  Cromwell — the  Puritan:  and  George  Fox 
—the  Quaker.  Two  extremes,  of  the  same  age.  The 
first,  trained  in  the  school  of  Joshua,  had  faith  in  the 
sword  and  in  a  good  cause.  The  latter,  following  Christ, 
rejected  all  carnal  weapons.  Both  erred  in  a  too  literal 
interpretation  and  application  of  their  respective  guides. 
Cromwell,  of  the  Old  Testament,  and  Fox,  of  the  New. 

103.  The  conflicts  during  the  Stuart  dynasty  involved 
principles  of  infinite  value  both  in  religion  and  politics. 
The  points  raised  by  the  nation  in  that  grand  debate 
were — whether  as  Christians  they  should  be  free  to  fol¬ 
low  the  dictates  of  conscience,  or  be  bound  to  worship 
God  in  a  form  prescribed  by  human  authority — whether 
as  citizens  they  should  be  governed  by  law,  or  by  the 
arbitrary  will  of  the  prince. 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  565 


104.  It  is  an  instructive  fact,  that  every  sect  under 
persecution  has  got  a  glimpse  of  the  rights  of  conscience, 
and  that  every  sect  in  power  has,  to  a  greater  or  less 
extent,  violated  them. 

105.  Men  value  what  they  pay  for — and  vice  versa. 
Hence,  free  schools  and  gratuitous  education,  seldom 
successful  or  greatly  beneficial.  A  violent  motive  to 
self-reliance  and  self-exertion,  better  than  any  legal  or 
public  assistance.  It  is  curious  to  observe  how  eager 
are  the  slaves  to  learn  to  read  and  write  noiv  since  laws 
have  been  passed,  prohibiting  their  instruction.  They 
love  the  forbidden  fruit.  What  the  law  denies  and  con¬ 
demns,  they  covet  and  struggle  to  acquire. 

106.  In  order  to  encourage,  protect  and  sustain  the 
manufacture  of  cotton,  for  example,  at  home:  suppose 
a  law  should  be  enacted  by  Congress  prohibiting  the 
importation  of  all  cotton  fabrics  after  a  certain  fixed 
period,  say  five  or  ten  years.  What  would  be  the  effect? 
Capitalists,  both  at  home  and  abroad,  would  immediately 
begin  to  prepare  for  the  event.  The  country  would  be 
filled  with  factories,  and  with  foreign  capital,  operatives, 
etc. 

107.  Suppose  Tennessee  had  the  constitutional  right 
to  levy  a  tax  of  $20  upon  every  carriage  imported  from 
other  States:  would  our  present  carriage-makers  be  the 
only  party  benefited?  or  would  carriages  become  dearer 
in  the  long  run?  The  demand  would  soon  insure  a  full 
supply.  Whole  establishments  from  the  East  would  soon 
be  located  here — besides  the  additional  stimulus  to  native 
industry  and  enterprise. 


566 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


108.  How  would  agriculture  be  affected  by  the  crea¬ 
tion  of  a  hundred  flourishing  cities,  towns  and  villages 
in  our  midst,  mainly  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  our 
own  abundant  and  now  almost  useless  raw  materials, 
and  consuming  the  products  of  our  farms,  etc.?  all  the 
time? 

109.  No  uniform  tariff  of  duties  upon  foreign  manu¬ 
factures,  could  be  made  to  operate  in  favour  of  one  class 
more  than  another.  It  could  not  create  a  monopoly.  It 
would  operate  equally  throughout  the  Union — in  Georgia 
as  in  Massachusetts. 

110.  The  best  system  of  taxation,  is  that  which  taxes 
consumption.  Such  is  our  present  national  system.  Such 
is  not  our  State  system.  The  latter  is  very  objectionable. 
Better  tax  what  a  man  spends  or  consumes,  [beyond  a 
liberal  allowance  for  the  necessaries  and  comforts  of  life,] 
than  to  tax  what  he  gains  or  earns  by  honest  industry 
and  economy.  Tax  whisky  and  Bowie  knives,  rather 
than  salt  or  sugar. 

111.  The  prevailing  demagogue  bluster  about  th e  poor 
• — also,  about  mechanics,  etc. 

112.  Cheap  labour  in  Europe,  assigned  as  a  reason 
why  manufactures  cannot  be  sustained  in  this  country, 
etc.  The  reason  is  just  as  applicable  to  agriculture.  We 
ought  to  quit  farming,  and  import  our  bread  from  Europe 
—  where  cheap  labour  can  drive  all  American  competi¬ 
tion  from  the  market. 

113.  Legislative  attempts  to  elevate  the  social  and 
political  position  of  mechanics  or  farmers — nugatory, 
and  injurious.  Superior  education  alone  can  raise  them 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


567 


to  a  par  with  other  well-educated  classes.  Franklin  did 
not  exalt  the  trade  or  vocation  of  printing;  nor  Sherman 
that  of  shoemaking,  by  their  individual  enterprise.  They 
merely  elevated  themselves — far  above  their  primitive 
associates — who  remained  as  before,  etc. 

114.  One-fourth  of  our  present  labouring  people  could 
produce  food  enough  for  our  entire  population.  What 
shall  the  rest  do? 

115.  Constitution  making  and  mending — all  the  rage, 
among  our  wise  politicians. 

116.  Thorough  literal  democracy — frequent  elections 
—  universal  suffrage  —  all  public  officers  to  be  chosen 
by  the  people,  and  by  ballot  —  inevitable.  Let  us 
try  it. 

117.  Our  legal  and  judicial  system  should  be  reformed 
and  simplified.  Technical  barbarisms  and  verbose  for¬ 
mulas  should  be  abolished,  and  common  sense  allowed  to 
prevail,  etc. 

118.  Balance  of  trade.  What? 

119.  Laws  prohibiting  the  exportation  of  specie  always 
inexpedient — and  never  effective. 

120.  Gold  and  silver,  in  any  and  all  forms,  constitute 
but  a  very  small  part  of  the  wealth  of  a  nation,  or  State, 
or  individual. 

121.  Popular  education  cannot  be  sustained  in  Ten¬ 
nessee  and  other  slaveholding  States,  as  in  New  Eng¬ 
land,  because  the  population  is  too  scattered,  living, 
not  in  villages,  but  on  plantations  remote  from  each 
other,  etc. 

122.  We,  Americans,  have  no  rulers  or  governors  or 


568 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


masters  or  superiors.  The  President  of  the  United  States 
has  no  more  authority  or  power  over  me,  than  I  over  him. 
The  law  governs — and  not  man. 

123.  Russia  invites  ingenious  mechanics  and  manufac¬ 
turers  from  all  countries  to  settle  and  labour  among  her 
people,  etc.  Sound  policy. 

124.  The  last  national  bankrupt  law  was  made  neces¬ 
sary  by  previous  absurd  and  vicious  banking  —  which 
stimulated  speculation  and  borroiving  to  the  wildest  ex¬ 
treme,  etc. 

125.  Extremes  meet.  Thus:  abolitionists  at  the  North, 
and  ultra  pro-slavery  men  at  the  South,  both  apparently 
eager  to  dissolve  the  Union — both  agree  in  supporting 
the  same  presidential  candidate  —  and  in  sharing  all 
public  offices,  etc. 

126.  English  East  India  Company.  Chartered  in  1600. 
Contemplate  the  progress  and  prospects  of  Anglo-Saxon- 
dom ! !  in  Asia,  Africa,  America,  Australia ! 

127.  It  is  asserted  to  be  unconstitutional  for  Con¬ 
gress  to  prohibit  slavery  in  any  territories,  annexed  to 
the  Union  by  conquest  or  purchase.  How  so  ?  The 
constitution  is  silent  on  the  whole  subject;  makes  no 
provision  for  such  acquisitions ;  seems  never  to  have 
contemplated  anything  of  the  kind,  etc.  The  letter  of 
the  constitution,  therefore,  ceases  to  be  our  rule  cr  guide. 
We  must  meet  the  emergency  agreeably  to  its  spirit; 
and  in  a  way  to  consult  and  promote  the  best  interests 
of  the  great  republic.  The  general  good — the  peace, 
harmony  and  happiness  of  the  whole  people — must  be 
studied,  etc. 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


569 


128.  The  District  of  Columbia.  Congress  is  its  only 
legislature.  Suppose  the  inhabitants  of  said  District 
desire  and  petition  for  the  abolition  of  slavery:  how 
would  or  ought  Congress  to*  act? 

129.  The  South  prefers  a  claim  to  its  share  of  the 
territory  acquired  from  Mexico:  namely,  that  it  shall 
be  a  slaveholding  region.  It  claims  to  have  contributed 
even  more  than  the  North  towards  its  conquest.  If  so, 
it  was  a  matter  of  choice — for  immense  bodies  of  volun¬ 
teers  in  the  free  States  were  rejected  by  government;  and 
the  preference  given  to  those  of  the  South,  because  they 
were  nearer  to  the  scene  of  war,  etc. 

130.  The  said  territory  belongs  neither  to  the  North 
nor  to  the  South.  It  will  be  sold  to  individuals,  from 
any  and  every  quarter,  who  may  choose  to  occupy  it. 
The  proceeds  go  into  the  national  treasury,  for  the  com¬ 
mon  benefit  of  the  whole.  Southerners  may  purchase  as 
much  as  they  please — enough  to  make  a  new  slave  State, 
if  so  disposed. 

131.  Dissolve  the  Union,  upon  the  slavery  question. 
What  possible  benefit  could  accrue  to  the  South?  What 
would  then  be  the  position  of  the  negroes? 

132.  “My  thoughts,  I  must  confess,  are  turned  on 
peace.” 

133.  Southern  champions  maintain  that  the  exten¬ 
sion  of  slavery  into  new  States  and  territories,  will  not 
increase  their  number.  A  grand  mistake! 

134.  The  constitution  may  be  violated,  perverted,  nul¬ 
lified — covertly,  indirectly,  virtually,  speciously,  insidi¬ 
ously —  as  by  converting  every  State  legislature  into  a 


570 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


body  of  censors  and  instructors  over  the  United  States 
Senators.  The  latter  are  now  much  less  independent 
than  the  lower  house,  and  more  liable  to  be  turned 
out.  In  fact,  they  are  at  the  mercy  of  every  annual 
legislature. 

Thus,  too,  the  President  may  contrive  to  get  up  a  fight 
between  some  portion  of  our  army  or  navy  and  that  of  a 
foreign  power;  and  then  Congress  must  declare  that  war 
actually  exists  between  the  two  nations,  etc. 

135.  Twaddlers.  Not  a  few — here  and  there — in  the 
pulpit  and  in  the  lecture-room. 

136.  Nearly  all  the  measures  opposed  by  the  South  at 
present,  originated  at  the  South,  or  wrere  suggested  and 
advocated  by  Southern  members  of  Congress. — As,  1. 
Internal  improvements  under  Jefferson — afterwards  by 
Calhoun.  2.  The  late  National  Bank,  by  Lowndes  and 
Calhoun  under  Madison.  3.  Tariff  for  protection  of  home 
industry,  by  Calhoun,  soon  after  last  British  war.  4.  The 
last  two  wars — mainly  by  Southern  politicians.  5.  Even 
abolitionism  was  first  projected  and  organized  by  emi¬ 
grants  from  the  South — as  by  the  two  Misses  Grimke 
from  Charleston,  South  Carolina;  James  Birney  of  Hunts¬ 
ville,  Alabama.  Beman,  Palfrey,  Garrison,  etc.  resided 
long  at  the  South,  etc. 

137.  Penitentiary.  The  worst  kind  of  corporal  pun¬ 
ishment.  Reforms  nobody. 

138.  The  American  Union.  Not  to  be  severed  by  the 
insane  politicians  and  reckless  aspirants  at  Washington. 

139.  Congress  has  not  the  constitutional  right  or  power 
to  authorize  or  to  prohibit  the  introduction  of  slavery 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


571 


into  any  of  the  territories,  —  any  more  than  into  the 
States. 

140.  Wilmot  Proviso  and  Missouri  Compromise — both 
unconstitutional.  The  constitution  knows  nothing  of 
slavery.  The  nation  knows  it  not.  It  is  a  merely  local, 
municipal,  or  State  affair.  The  people  of  each  territory 
or  State  must  determine  for  themselves. 

141.  “It  is  the  glory  of  God  to  conceal  a  thing;  but 
the  honour  of  kings  is  to  search  out  a  matter.”  (. Prov . 
xxv.  2.) 

142.  The  South  should  assert  her  rights  and  redress 
her  wrongs  in  a  constitutional  way,  in  the  Union:  not 
seek  to  get  out  of  it,  and  thereby  forfeit  all  claim  either 
to  sympathy  or  justice. 

143.  Iccgo.  How  many  Iagos  infest  society! 

144.  Contrasts.  Washington  and  Mirabeau.  Milton 
and  Byron.  Fenelon  and  Bossuet.  Laud  and  Leighton. 
Cowper  and  Moore. 

145.  Party  is:  “The  madness  of  many  for  the  gain  of 
a  few.” 

146.  “Liberte!  que  de  crimes  commis  en  ton  nom!” 
exclaimed  Madame  Boland,  as  she  mounted  the  scaf¬ 
fold,  etc. 

147.  “Civis  Bomanus  sum.”  “I  am  an  American 
citizen,”  ought  to  be  the  highest  distinction  and  safest 
passport  among  men. 

148.  Newspapers.  All  controlled  by,  and  devoted  to, 
sect  or  party. 

Political  and  religious  papers  are  confessedly  in  this 
predicament.  They  are  liberal  and  independent ,  just  so 


572  MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 

far  as  their  own  interest  requires,  and  no  further.  Thus, 
the  most  violent  whig  or  democratic  journal,  in  order  to 
win  the  patronage  of  all  religionists,  will  very  graciously 
be  neutral  on  the  subject,  and  say  nothing  offensive  to 
any  sect.  The  religious  journal,  in  like  manner,  eschews 
party  politics — is  neither  whig  nor  democratic — so  that 
both  parties  may  safely  patronize  the  orthodox  Presby¬ 
terian,  Episcopalian,  Methodist,  Baptist,  or  Catholic. — 
But  not  one  of  them  will  ever  dare  to  publish  a  truth 
or  fact  calculated  to  give  offence  to  their  own  sect  or 
party. 

Literary  and  scientific  journals  and  periodicals  gener¬ 
ally  proclaim  their  independence  and  catholicity,  by  the 
announcement  (in  their  prospectus)  that  they  will  not 
meddle  with  religion  or  politics.  Their  policy  is  to  get 
subscribers  and  purchasers  from  every  religious  denom¬ 
ination  and  from  all  political  cliques  and  parties.  Could 
a  strictly  honest,  impartial,  enlightened,  manly,  brave, 
conscientious,  independent,  gifted,  noble,  generous,  wise, 
unselfish,  holy ,  angelic  author,  editor  or  conductor  of  any 
periodical  whatever,  be  sustained  and  duly  paid?  for  a 
year  or  a  month  ?  would  he  escape  martyrdom,  under 
Judge  Lynch’s  summary  process  and  convenient  code? 

149.  Slavery  would  come  to  a  speedy  end,  or  die  out, 
under  the  quiet  operation  of  the  following  five  laws,  with¬ 
out  any  direct  legislation  against  this  favourite  domestic 
institution  of  the  South.  1.  The  Cuban  law,  giving  oppor¬ 
tunity  to  the  slaves  to  earn  their  freedom  and  that  of 
their  children.  2.  The  law  of  the  dark  ages  in  respect 
to  the  feudal  serf,  giving  to  the  child  the  condition  of  its 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


father,  and  not  as  now,  wickedly  and  cruelly,  that  of  its 
mother.  3.  A  law  forbidding  the  internal  slave-trade. 
4.  A  law  repealing  all  statutes  against  the  emancipation 
and  education  of  slaves,  and  encouraging  both.  5.  A  law 
by  each  of  the  States  and  by  the  General  Government, 
appropriating  money  to  aid  all  willing  emigrants  to  reach 
Liberia.  [From  New  York  Independent  of  July  28, 1853.] 
I  approve  the  last  (No.  5)  suggestion  especially — and 
would  add  to  it,  the  justice  and  expediency  of  remu¬ 
nerating  slave -owners  from  the  national  treasury — at 
least,  to  some  extent. 


NEGRO  SLAVERY  IN  AMERICA.* 


The  following  texts  of  Scripture  may  serve  to  prove 
and  illustrate,  1.  The  unity  of  the  human  family;  or 
that  all  men  are  descended  from  Adam  and  Eve.  2. 
The  diversity  of  character  and  condition  actually  exists 
ing  among  men  in  different  ages  and  countries — in¬ 
cluding  civilized  and  savage,  black  and  white,  bond  and 
free,  etc.  3.  That  all,  or  that  some  of  all  nations,  how¬ 
ever  ignorant  and  degraded,  are  to  be  converted  to  the 
Christian  faith. — The  negro  among  the  rest. 

Genesis,  i.  27.  “So  God  created  man  in  his  own  image, 

*  The  present  article,  like  the  two  preceding  ones,  is  a  mere  fragment  or 
collection  of  separate  heads  and  themes  of  thought,  to  be  used  for  subsequent 
discussion.  It  is  evidently  too  brief  and  imperfect  to  be  taken  as  a  fair  expo¬ 
nent  of  the  author’s  opinions  on  the  subject  of  which  it  treats.  Some  of  the 
expressions  here  used,  as  the  arguments  or  mottoes  of  different  parties,  he 
would  probably  have  combated  as  being  in  conflict  with  his  own  convictions; 
for,  as  abundantly  shown  in  all  his  writings,  he  was  a  warm  friend  of  the  Afri¬ 
can  race,  and  a  decided  emancipationist,  provided  only  that  some  safe  and 
feasible  method  could  be  found.  The  article  should  be  read  in  connection  with 
the  one  on  page  6G3  of  the  present  volume,  where  the  author  has  expressed 
himself  in  very  strong  and  unequivocal  terms  on  the  whole  subject.  Lest  any 
one  should  think  there  is  an  incongruity  between  the  views  here  and  there  pre¬ 
sented,  it  is  due  to  Dr.  Lindsley  to  state  that  this  fragment  was  written  at  New 
Albany  after  a  residence  of  twenty-six  years  in  Tennessee;  while  the  extract 
on  page  663  originally  formed  part  of  a  sermon  which  lie  preached  and  pub¬ 
lished  in  Princeton,  N.J^,  just  before  removing  to  Tennessee. 


(574) 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


in  tlie  image  of  God  created  he  him 5  male  and  female 
created  he  them.” 

Gen.  vii.  21,  22.  “And  all  flesh  died  that  moveth  upon 
the  earth,  both  of  fowl,  and  of  cattle,  and  of  beast,  and 
of  every  creeping  thing  that  creepeth  upon  the  earth, 
and  every  man:  All  in  whose  nostrils  was  the  breath  of 
life,  of  all  that  was  in  the  dry  land,  died.”  (Of  course, 
all  men  now  living,  or  who  have  since  lived,  are  or  were 
descended  from  Noah.) 

Gen.  ix.  18,  19,  25,  26,  27.  “And  the  sons  of  Noah 
that  went  forth  of  the  ark,  were  Shem,  and  Ham,  and 
Japheth:  and  Ham  is  the  father  of  Canaan.  19.  These 
are  the  three  sons  of  Noah:  and  of  them  was  the  whole 
earth  overspread.  25.  And  he  said,  Cursed  be  Canaan; 
a  servant  of  servants  shall  he  be  unto  his  brethren.  26. 
And  he  said,  Blessed  be  the  Lord  God  of  Shem;  and 
Canaan  shall  be  his  servant.  27.  God  shall  enlarge 
Japheth,  and  he  shall  dwell  in  the  tents  of  Shem;  and 
Canaan  shall  be  his  servant.”  (In  the  last  three 
verses,  we  should  probably  read,  “Ham,  the  father  of 
Canaan.”) 

Acts,  xvii.  26.  “And  hath  made  of  one  blood  all  na¬ 
tions  of  men  for  to  dwell  on  all  the  face  of  the  earth, 
and  hath  determined  the  times  before  appointed,  and  the 
bounds  of  their  habitation.” 

Ps.  Ixviii.  31.  “Princes  shall  come  out  of  Egypt: 
Ethiopia  shall  soon  stretch  out  her  hands  unto  God.” 

Ps.  ii.  8.  “Ask  of  me,  and  I  shall  give  thee  the  hea¬ 
then  for  thine  inheritance,  and  the  uttermost  parts  of 
the  earth  for  thy  possession.” 


57G 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


Ps.  cii.  15.  “ So  the  heathen  shall  fear  the  name  of  the 
Lord:  and  all  the  kings  of  the  earth  thy  glory.” 

Galatians,  iii.  8.  “And  the  Scripture,  foreseeing  that 
God  would  justify  the  heathen  through  faith,  preached 
before  the  gospel  unto  Abraham,  saying,  In  thee  shall  all 
nations  be  blessed.” 

Luke,  xxiv.  47.  “And  that  repentance  and  remission 
of  sins  should  be  preached  in  his  name  among  all  na¬ 
tions,  beginning  at  Jerusalem.” 

Matt,  xxviii.  19.  “Go  ye  therefore  and  teach  all  na¬ 
tions,  baptizing  them  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  and  of 
the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost.” 

Rev.  xiv.  6,  7.  “And  I  saw  another  angel  fly  in  the 
midst  of  heaven,  having  the  everlasting  gospel  to  preach 
unto  them  that  dwell  on  the  earth,  and  to  every  nation 
and  kindred,  and  tongue,  and  people.” 

Mark,  xvi.  15.  “And  he  said  unto  them,  Go  ye  into  all 
the  world,  and  preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature.” 

Exod.  xx.  5,  6.  “For  I  the  Lord  thy  God  am  a  jealous 
God,  visiting  the  iniquity  of  the  fathers  upon  the  chil¬ 
dren  unto  the  third  and  fourth  generation  of  them  that 
hate  me;  And  showing  mercy  unto  thousands  of  them 
that  love  me,  and  keep  my  commandments.” 

1.  Consider  the  scriptural  view  of  the  divine  govern¬ 
ment  and  various  dispensations.  Why  the  diversities  of 
race?  How  accounted  for?  Parental  sins  visited  upon 
children.  Noachian  prediction  and  malediction. 

2.  Slavery  countenanced  and  regulated  by  law  among 
the  Hebrews.  By  Moses,  etc.  By  Paul,  etc. 

3.  The  African  at  home  and  in  America.  Actual  con- 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  577 

dition  of  the  negroes  in  Africa  at  the  period  when  first 
transported  as  slaves  to  America.  Their  condition  since, 
and  at  present, — not  worse  certainly  than  before,  and  in 
their  native  land.  Sufferings  and  deaths,  even  by  the 
horrid  middle  passage,  far  less  than  would  have  been 
endured  at  home.  Where  every  species  of  cruel  bond¬ 
age,  bloody  sacrifice,  prolonged  torture,  unmitigated, 
hopeless  wretchedness — prevailed.  War,  death,  slavery, 
—  ever  in  prospect — at  home.  Without  the  slightest 
chance  of  improvement,  amelioration,  or  eventual  en¬ 
lightenment.  Are  the  negroes,  at  this  moment,  any¬ 
where  in  the  United  States,  as  badly  off  as  are  their 
heathen  kindred  in  Africa?  Let  the  comparison  be  in¬ 
stituted  and  fairly  conducted,  etc. 

4.  The  great  design  of  Providence  in  causing  or  per¬ 
mitting  their  removal  to  America.  History.  Prophecy. 
How  great  changes  or  events  are  usually  brought  about. 
The  negro  had  so  far  degenerated,  had  become  so  ex¬ 
tremely  debased,  that  a  dong  course  of  discipline  and 
apprenticeship  was  necessary  to  restore  him  to  his  pri¬ 
meval  dignity  and  manhood.  A  schooling  of  some  two 
hundred  years,  among  the  Anglo-Americans,  has  wrought 
marvels  in  their  behalf.  They  have  already  become  a 
renovated  and  superior  race.  Superior,  I  mean,  when 
compared  with  the  wild  native  of  Africa.  They  have 
improved  physically,  morally,  intellectually.  They  have 
advanced  in  civilization — in  morals,  religion,  intelligence, 
industrial  arts,  political  wisdom  (or  habit  of  imitation  or 
experience  or  something  which  enables  them  to  go 
ahead,) — as  no  barbarous  or  savage  tribe  had  ever  done 
vol.  in. — 37 


578  MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 

when  left  to  themselves.  Their  case  is  unique — without 
a  parallel.  They  have  been  increasing  in  numbers,  and 
improving,  like  children  at  school,  steadily  and  rapidly, 
while  the  native  Indians  have  as  rapidly  disappeared — 
died  out ! 

5,  Without  uttering  a  word,  by  way  of  apology  or 
excuse  or  defence  for  the  manner  in  which  negroes  have 
been  treated  and  regarded  by  the  whites ,  it  may  be 
justly  said,  in  reference  to  the  divine  government  and 
providence,  that  their  violent  deportation  to  America 
has  proved  to  them  and  their  race  a  great  and  perma¬ 
nent  blessing.  Even  the  rights  of  marriage — of  hus¬ 
band  and  wife— of  parent  and  child — are  scarcely 
recognized  in  Africa.  In  these  respects,  therefore,  they 
have  lost  nothing  —  at  the  very  worst.  Family  ties, 
without  the  sanction  of  law,  are  respected  by  both 
master  and  slave  far  beyond  the  capacity  of  a  pagan 
negro  to  comprehend.  On  this  subject,  our  legislation  is 
abominable.  It  must  be  abolished.  The  Christian  code 
must  be  adopted  and  enforced.  Still,  the  philanthropist, 
in  comparing  the  lot  of  the  American  negro  with  that 
of  the  untutored  African,  will  hardly  hesitate  to  award 
the  palm  to  the  former.  Especially  when  looking  to — 

6.  Colonization.  To  Liberia.  To  the  great  African 
Republic.  The  counterpart  of  the  United  States.  The 
model  of  civilization,  Christianity  and  democratic  self- 
government  for  a  whole  continent.  Its  actual  state  and 
progress  and  influence.  Its  probable  results.  Has  the 
world  ever  seen  the  like?  What  modern  enterprise  to 
be  compared  with  it  in  grandeur  of  conception  or  boldness 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  579 

of  execution?  A  few  emancipated  American  slaves 
have  achieved  on  the  coast  of  Africa  what  no  body 
of  enlightened  philosophers  or  zealous  political  cham¬ 
pions  of  popular  freedom  have  been  able  to  effect  in 
Europe  or  Spanish  America — namely,  to  establish  a 
republic  under  the  government  of  law — like  our  own,  etc. 

How  ought  Liberia  to  be  regarded  by  the  Christian, 
the  patriot,  the  statesman,  the  philanthropist — the  friend 
of  the  negro  as  well  as  of  the  white  man? 

7.  Opposition  to  the  cause  of  colonization  by  abolition¬ 
ists,  has  been  overruled  by  kind  Heaven  to  the  ultimate 
benefit  of  Liberia.  Otherwise  there  might  have  been  too 
great  and  sudden  a  rush  of  emigrants  to  the  Fatherland. 
The  current  in  that  direction  perhaps  needed  a  salutary 
check.  The  good  work  has,  in  consequence  of  unwise 
and  bitter  opposition,  advanced  slowly,  but  surely — until 
the  great  public  is  .beginning  to  appreciate  the  enter¬ 
prise,  and  to  discern  how  the  slave  may  be  emancipated 
to  the  advantage  alike  of  himself  and  his  master. 

8.  Is  slaveholding  a  sin  'per  se?  Abolitionists  affirm: 
Southerners  deny;  and  appeal  to  Moses  and  the  Pro¬ 
phets — to  Christ  and  the  Apostles. 

9.  Who  introduced  slavery  into  this  country?  Who 
is  guilty  of  the  original  sin?  What  government  is 
criminal— -and  responsible  for  the  enormity?  The  sin 
perpetrated  —  the  calamity  existing- — the  evil  every¬ 
where  felt — what  is  to  be  done?  What  can  be  done, 
consistently  with  the  dictates  of  humanity  and  Chris¬ 
tianity?  Is  every  man  who  owns  a  slave  to  be  de¬ 
nounced  as  a  monster?  etc. 


580  MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 

10.  No  man  is  required  by  law  to  own  a  slave ,  not 
even  in  the  slave  States.  The  most  vehement  opponent 
of  slavery,  therefore,  may  live  unmolested,  and  with  all 
the  rights  of  conscience  unimpaired,  quoad  hoc , — what¬ 
ever  notions  may  be  entertained  of  the  institution  itself. 

No  person  is  compelled  to  buy,  sell,  or  hold  in  bond¬ 
age,  a  single  slave  in  any  part  of  the  country,  —  of 
course,  if  conscientiously  opposed  to  slavery,  he  can 
keep  aloof  from  it. 

11.  Consider  the  multitude  of  negroes  converted  to 
the  Christian  faith  while  in  bondage,  etc. 

12.  The  white  race  more  damaged  by  slavery  than  the 
Mach. 

13.  Slavery  recognized  in  the  Decalogue.  See  fourth 
commandment. 

14.  Has  the  hearty  opponent  of  slavery  a  right— 
inherent  or  natural,  constitutional  or  scriptural,  pre¬ 
scriptive  or  conventional, — to  resist  the  lawful  authori¬ 
ties  in  their  execution  of  laws  duly  enacted  to  protect 
slave-owners,  and  to  secure  to  them  their  property  in 
slaves?  etc. 

15.  The  providential  scope,  tendency,  and  probable 
results  of  slavery,  both  here  and  in  Africa.  Emanci¬ 
pated  slaves  to  become  the  pioneers  of  civilization  and 
Christianity,  etc. 

16.  Even  while  in  slavery,  the  negro  fares  better,  in 
all  respects,  than  his  brethren  in  Africa — both  as  to  this 
life  and  the  future. 

IT.  This  view  of  the  subject  does  not  justify  or 
palliate  a  single  act  of  cruelty  or  injustice  on  the  part 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


581 


of  the  master.  Many  bad  men  have  been  used  as  mere 
instruments  to  carry  out  the  divine  purposes,  etc. 

18.  Abolitionists  and  ultra  pro-slavery  men  equally 
at  fault.  And  yet  both  will  be  made  unwittingly  to 
promote  the  grand  designs  of  Jehovah.  See  Isaiah,  x.  5, 
6,  7.  “0  Assyrian,  the  rod  of  mine  anger,  and  the  staff 
in  their  hand  is  mine  indignation.  I  will  send  him 
against  an  hypocritical  nation,  and  against  the  people 
of  my  wrath  will  I  give  him  a  charge,  to  take  the  spoil, 
and  to  take  the  prey,  and  to  tread  them  down  like  the 
mire  of  the  streets.  Howbeit  he  meaneth  not  so, 
neither  doth  his  heart  think  so;  but  it  is  in  his  heart 
to  destroy  and  cut  off  nations  not  a  few,”  etc. 

19.  Free  States  are  beginning  to  exclude  negroes  from 


their  territory — as  Indiana,  etc. 

20.  Slave  States  will  not  suffer  negroes  to  be  emanci¬ 
pated  except  on  condition  of  their  removal  from  the 
State . 

21.  What  will  soon  be  the  condition  of  free  negroes 
in  this  country?  What,  if  all  were  free?  Is  it  possible 
for  the  negro  here  ever  to  become  the  equal  of  the  white 
man — socially  or  politically? 

22.  Marriage — not  recognized  by  law  among  slaves. 
Husbands  and  wives,  parents  and  children,  are  sepa¬ 
rated,  and  sold  far  away  from  each  other.  Very  harsh, 
cruel  and  unchristian,  no  doubt.  Still,  not  worse  than 
in  Africa.  How  is  marriage  regarded  there?  Do  parents 
never  sell  their  children — even  to  slave-dealers? 

So  far  as  mere  separation  is  concerned,  the  slave  is  not 
worse  off  than  the  soldier  and  sailor.  Naval  officers, 


582 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


even,  of  the  highest  rank,  may  be  ordered  on  service  in 
remote  seas,  and  be  absent  many  years,  etc. 

The  separation,  by  sale,  of  negro  husband  and  wife,  is 
a  divorce — a  virtual  and  actual  dissolution  of  the  mar¬ 
riage  contract  or  relation — as  much  so,  as  if  one  of  the 
parties  had  died. 

They  may,  as  they  do,  marry  again.  This  is  allowed 
by  custom,  by  law,  by  reason,  and  by  religion.  What¬ 
ever  of  sin  may  be  involved  in  the  affair,  attaches  to  the 
master  or  to  the  government. 

23.  Slavery  will  not  cease — even  at  the  millennium. 
It  will  become  more  patriarchal — and  be  purified  from 
its  present  abominations,  etc. 

24.  The  late  “  Fugitive  Slave  Law  ”  (so  called)  has 
given  rise  to  an  immense  deal  of  discussion  —  political, 
ethical,  and  theological.  On  this  theme,  I  remark — 

1st.  Obedience  to  civil  government  is  a  Christian  duty. 

2d.  Except  when  it  conflicts  with  the  divine  govern¬ 
ment  or  law,  as  clearly  revealed  in  Scripture.  We  must 
obey  God  rather  than  men. 

3d.  Conscience  to  decide.  Every  man  for  himself. 

4  th.  When  we  cannot  conscientiously  obey,  we  must 
submit — as  did  Christ,  and  all  holy  men  of  old.  We 
must  endure  the  penalty  of  non-obedience — as  did  the 
apostles  and  martyrs — as  do  the  Quakers  now,  etc. 

25.  Negroes  are  everywhere  learning  to  read,  in  spite 
of  the  laws  which  forbid  their  instruction.  What  does 
this  fact  indicate,  as  to  the  capacity  and  probable  progress 
of  the  negro  race  in  science,  literature  and  art? 

26.  The  present  condition  of  Liberia.  Its  industrial 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  583 


and  commercial  prosperity.  Its  legislation  and  jurispru¬ 
dence.  Its  public  men — from  the  able  president  down 
to  the  humblest  village  magistrate.  Its  schools,  churches, 
newspapers, — morals,  intelligence,  sobriety,  religion,  so¬ 
cial  intercourse.  What  say  all  travellers  of  this  won¬ 
derful  Republic? 

27.  Distinguish  between  the  legitimate  tendency  and 
influence  of  Christianity  towards  the  gradual  ameli¬ 
oration  of  humanity  and  the  actual  state  of  mankind  in 

the  time  of  Christ,  and  ever  since.  The  evils  of  slave rv 

*  «/ 

to  be  abated  or  exterminated— like  those  of  intemper¬ 
ance,  war,  ignorance,  oppression  and  injustice  of  every 
kind. 

28.  Hitherto,  and  at  present,  the  negroes  have  been, 
and  are,  better  off  in  a  state  of  slavery  than  in  a  state 
of  freedom.  While  ignorant,  feeble,  degraded ;  they 
need  protection  and  instruction.  They  would  soon 
perish  out  of  the  land,  if  set  free,  and  left  to  take  care 
of  themselves. 

An  inferior  race  can  never  long  exist  in  the  midst  of 
a  superior ,  upon  equal  terms.  The  first  must  be  de¬ 
pendent  on,  and  protected  by  the  latter,  or  they  will 
soon  waste  away — especially  when  amalgamation  cannot 
take  place  —  and  where  intermarriages  would  not  oblit¬ 
erate  the  distinctions  of  caste  or  colour.  Witness  the 
fate  of  the  native  Indian;  and  of  the  negro  in  the  free 
States. 


FREE  BANKS-STATE  STOCK  BANKS. 


OBJECTIONS  TO  SUCH  BANKS. 


1.  Banks  based  on  a  deposit  of  what  are  called  gov¬ 
ernment  stocks — whether  National  or  State  bonds,  i.e. 
mere  evidences  of  National  or  State  debts — are  virtually 
allowed  a  great  privilege  denied  to  the  people  generally. 
They  are  allowed  at  least  double  interest.  They  receive 
the  usual  interest  accruing  from  the  stocks  or  bonds  de¬ 
posited,  and  also  from  an  equal  amount  of  their  own 
notes,  issued  as  money,  in  the  shape  of  bank  bills  or 
promises  to  pay  the  bearer  on  demand.  Thus,  for  every 
hundred  dollars  deposited,  they  receive,  say  six  per  cent., 
and  also,  six  per  cent,  or  more  for  another  hundred  of 
their  OAvn  paper — making  twelve  or  more  per  cent,  for 
every  hundred  dollars  of  bona  fide  capital ;  while  the 
ordinary  citizen  (not  a  shareholder  in  any  such  bank) 
can  get,  according  to  law,  only  six  per  cent,  for  the  loan 
of  his  own  real  capital  in  the  form  of  gold  and  silver — 
that  is,  actual  cash,  or  specie,  or  constitutional  money. 

2.  Why  should  State  stocks ,  or  any  other  evidences  of 
public  debts,  be  preferred  as  the  basis  of  a  bank,  rather 
than  other  kinds  of  property?  and  more  especially  real 
estate?  Could  not  the  latter  be  converted  into  money, 
as  readily  as  stocks — at  some  price?  say  at  half  its  esti¬ 
mated  or  market  value  ?  Let  the  cash  valuation  of  a 

(584) 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


585 


farm  be  ten  thousand  dollars, — in  any  exigency,  it  would 
certainly  command  five  thousand : — why  not  permit  the 
farmer  to  issue  his  quasi  bank  notes  to  the  amount  of 
five  thousand  dollars,  besides  working  his  farm,  and  get¬ 
ting  from  it  all  he  can?  But  even  this  would  not  place 
him  on  an  equality  with  the  stockholder  in  a  free  bank 
of  Indiana;  for  he  may  put  State  stock  at  qiar  into  a  bank 
— and  issue  an  equal  amount  of  his  own  paper — without 
regard  to  fluctuations  in  the  market.  Thus  even  now, 
(December,  1854,)  most  of  the  stocks  deposited  at  100 
are  selling  at  75  or  80;  and,  of  course,  are  insufficient  to 
redeem  the  bills  in  circulation.  I  suppose  a  landed  secu¬ 
rity  would  have  proved  more  reliable — but  the  truth  is, 
that  nothing  except  gold  and  silver  ( i.e .  money)  can 
serve  as  a  safe  basis  for  banking  operations, — because 
payment  is  always  to  be  made  on  demand ,  and  not  on 
the  cash  sale  of  stocks  or  land  or  any  other  commodity 
or  species  of  property. 

3.  To  establish  the  eighty-seven  free  banks  of  Indiana, 
some  seven  or  eight  millions  of  cash  funds  (gold  and 
silver,  or  their  equivalent  in  some  other  form,)  were 
actually  sent  away  from  the  State  to  New  York  or  other 
remote  cities  to  purchase  the  needful  stocks- — thereby 
diminishing,  to  that  amount,  the  actual  available  capital 
of  the  commonwealth,  to  be  replaced  by  the  issue  of 
seven  or  eight  millions  of  doubtful  and  constantly  depre¬ 
ciating  paper  currency.  Thus,  on  a  trial  of  about  six 
months,  some  of  the  banks  have  already  failed  or  sus¬ 
pended  payment,  and  the  paper  of  others  is  selling  at  a 
discount  of  from  ten  to  thirty  per  cent. 


58G 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


4.  The  attempt  to  build  up  a  bank  upon  a  debt — to 
create  something  out  of  nothing — to  hazard  debts  to  indi¬ 
viduals  upon  State  debts — looks  very  like  an  absurdity. 
If  it  could  be  assumed  as  certain  that  all  the  stocks 
pledged  for  the  redemption  of  the  bills  issued,  could  be 
instantly  converted  into  cash  at  their  par  value,  there 
would  be  reason  in  the  thing;  but  all  experience  shows 
that  whenever  there  is  a  stringent  demand  for  money — 
specie— then  stocks,  as  well  as  other  property,  will  sink 
or  fall  in  price. 

5.  Consider  the  vast  expense  of  maintaining  any  sys¬ 
tem  of  banking:  —  the  numerous  officials  employed  at 
large  salaries — the  presidents,  cashiers,  tellers,  clerks, 
runners,  attorneys,  agents,  collectors;  the  banking-houses, 
fixtures,  engraved  plates,  stationery.  Compute  the  ex¬ 
pense  of  the  whole  machinery  for  furnishing  the  people 
with  a  substitute  for  the  constitutional  currency.  How 
much  does  it  cost?  There  are  already  eighty-seven  free 
banks  in  operation,  and  others  are  being  daily  established, 
and  there  are  thirteen  other  banks — making  one  hun¬ 
dred  in  all  for  Indiana.  There  are  probably  not  less 
than  three  thousand  banks  of  all  sorts  in  the  United 
States — employing  some  twelve  or  more  thousand  offi¬ 
cers  and  servants — to  say  nothing  of  directors — and  at  a 
cost  to  the  people  of  fifteen  or  twenty  millions  annualty. 
Now  this  entire  host  of  genteel  workingmen,  and  this 
enormous  expenditure  of  annual  millions,  do  not  produce 
a  dollar,  or  add  a  dollar  to  the  actual  wealth  or  capital 
of  the  State  or  of  the  Union.  People  are  continually 
deluded  and  mystified  with  the  fancy  that  banks  can 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


make  money  plenty — that  they  possess  some  magical  or 
creative  powers. 

6.  But  we  are  gravely  assured,  in  the  newspapers,  that 
there  is  no  cause  for  alarm  or  for  a  panic — that,  at  the 
worst,  the  noteholders  need  not  lose  more  than  from  ten 
to  twenty  per  cent.,  if  they  will  only  be  patient,  liavo 
faith,  and  wait  for  the  sale  of  the  stocks  deposited  at 
Indianapolis.  Why  should  they  lose  a  cent  or  wait  an 
hour?  Again,  we  are  told,  that  the  banks  are  rapidly 
calling  in  and  redeeming  their  paper,  and  that  their 
circulation  has  already  been  reduced  to  about  one-half 
of  the  original  issue,  or  by  some  three  or  four  millions — - 
and  that  therefore  we  may  dismiss  all  fear  for  the  future. 
This  is  proof  at  least  that  there  was  abundant  ground 
for  fear,  distrust  and  alarm — and  hence  the  attempt  to 
apply  the  only  practicable  remedy.  But  this  remedy 
conies  too  late  for  the  relief  of  the  poor  noteholders  of 
a  few  dollars,  needed  for  their  daily  bread — and  which 
must  be  sacrificed  for  whatever  they  can  get.  Capital¬ 
ists,  speculators,  merchants,  brokers,  may  profit  by  the 
purchase  of  such  bills  at  an  enormous  discount,  i.e.  by 
shaving  the  necessitous.  The  poor  widow,  for  example, 
who  last  evening  received  her  hard-earned  pay  in  a 
one-dollar  bill  (of  the  Connersville  Bank  or  any  similar 
concern)  goes  to  the  market  this  morning  to  bu}^  the 
necessary  food  for  herself  and  children,— and  is  told  by 
the  butcher  that  her  note  won’t  pass,  that  the  bank  has 
just  closed  its  doors,  etc. — -What  can  she  do?  Why, 
just  take  whatever  she  can  get,  rather  than  starve,  say 
fifty  or  twenty-five  cents. 


588 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


7.  The  fundamental  error,  fallacy,  sophism,  absurdity 
of  the  whole  system,  would  be  obvious,  if,  instead  of  dol¬ 
lars ,  the  paper  promises  were  to  pay  the  bearer  so  many 
bags  of  cotton  or  barrels  of  flour  or  sugar  or  coffee,  and 
when  a  demand  is  made  for  the  promised  commodity — 
lo  and  behold,  the  said  article  is  not  on  hand  and  cannot 
be  procured.  Will  it  suffice  to  offer  tobacco  or  whisky 
or  horses,  or  land,  or  even  gold? 

8.  I  blame  no  one  who  honestly  engages  in  such  bank¬ 
ing  according  to  the  letter  and  meaning  of  the  law.  If 
the  law  allows  him  twenty  per  cent,  for  the  use  of  his 
capital,  he  has  a  right  to  the  privilege,  though  withheld 
from  his  neighbour.* 

*  The  Auditor  of  the  State  of  Indiana,  in  November,  1854,  informs 
the  public  that:  “All  the  free  bank  paper  is  taken  for  State  and 
County  taxes  in  this  State,  except  the  following,  viz. :  Connersville, 
Northern  Indiana,  Drovers’  Bank  of  Home,  Plymouth  Bank  of  Ply¬ 
mouth,  Traders’  Bank  of  Terre  Haute,  and  the  State  Stock  Bank  of 
Logansport.”  Again,  he  adds:  “The  circulation  of  all  the  [free 
stock]  banks  now  is  between  three  and  four  millions,  but  is  daily 
growing  less.  The  amount  originally  issued  was  between  seven  and 
eight  millions.”  Again:  “I  am  surrendering  the  bonds  of  all  the 
banks  to  holders  of  their  notes.” 

What  must  result  from  such  enormous  expansion  and  contraction 
of  the  popular  currency  ?  Already  the  pressure  is  heavy  upon  us — 
very  like  1831. 

The  “Act  to  authorize  and  regulate  the  business  of  General  Bank¬ 
ing  in  Indiana,”  was  approved  May  28,  1852 — to  be  in  force  from  and 
after  July  1,  1852.  Most  of  the  existing  free  banks,  I  believe,  have 
gone  into  operation  within  the  current  year.  Another,  at  Paoli,  is  to 
commence  on  the  twentieth  of  this  month,  viz.,  December  20,  1854. 

Each  shareholder  is  held  responsible  in  his  individual  capacity  and 
private  fortune  to  an  amount  equal  to  his  stock  subscription — and  in 
addition  to  the  public  stock  deposited  at  Indianapolis — for  the  redemp¬ 
tion  of  the  bills  issued.  But  this  provisional  security  will  prove  of 
little  value  in  the  case  of  foreign  shareholders  or  those  of  other  States : 
and  of  no  value  whatever  when  shareholders  possess  no  other  property. 


RICHES— POVERTY. 


There  is  a  fashion  of  denouncing  wealth  and  wealthy 
men,  which  is  neither  scriptural  nor  judicious.  I  sup¬ 
pose  wealth  may  be  righteously  or  honestly  inherited, 
acquired,  possessed,  enjoyed,  etc.  The  Bible,  surely,  en¬ 
courages  and  enjoins  the  practice  of  all  the  virtues  which 
contribute  to  worldly  prosperity,  and  abounds  in  exam¬ 
ples  of  good  men  who  became  rich.  Thus,  diligence, 
economy,  sobriety,  etc.  are  inculcated;  while  Abraham, 
Isaac,  Jacob,  Job,  Moses,  Joseph,  Ruth,  Esther,  David, 
Daniel,  etc.  were  examples  in  point.  Good  men  were 
often  tried  by  both  prosperity  and  adversity — ;by  poverty 
and  wealth — neither  desirable  in  the  extreme.  Religion 
is  the  principal  concern — the  one  thing  absolutely  and 
pre-eminently  needful.  Hence  the  exhortation  or  com¬ 
mand  of  Christ:  “But  seek  ye  first  the  kingdom  of  God, 
and  his  righteousness,  and  all  these  things  shall  be  added 
unto  you.”  (Matt.  vi.  33;  see,  also,  1  Tim.  iv.  8.) 

The  acquisition  of  wealth  by  unlawful  means  or  for 
unlawful  ends,  is,  of  course,  sternly  condemned.  We  are 
to  use  the  world,  but  not  to  abuse  it.  “And  they  that 
use  this  world,  as  not  abusing  it.”  (1  Cor.  vii.  31.) 

The  inordinate  pursuit  of  wealth,  or  of  any  mere 
earthly  good,  is  forbidden.  Covetousness  is  idolatry. 
See  Coloss.  iii.  5:  “and  covetousness,  which  is  idolatry.” 

(589) 


590 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


“ Labour  not  to  be  rich;  cease  from  thine  own  wisdom.” 
(Prov.  xxiii.  4.)  “Lay  not  up  for  yourselves  treasures 
upon  earth/’  etc.  (Matt.  vi.  19,  20,  21. 

“Treasures  of  wickedness  profit  nothing:  but  right¬ 
eousness  delivereth  from  death.”  “The  Lord  will  not 
suffer  the  soul  of  the  righteous  to  famish :  but  he  casteth 
away  the  substance  of  the  wicked.”  (Prov.  x.  2,  3.)  “An 
inheritance  may  be  gotten  hastily  at  the  beginning;  but 
the  end  thereof  shall  not  be  blessed.”  (Prov.  xx.  21.) 
“The  getting  of  treasures  by  a  lying  tongue  is  a  vanity 
tossed  to  and  fro  of  them  that  seek  death.”  (Prov.  xxi.  6.) 
“A  faithful  man  should  abound  with  blessings:  but  he 
that  maketh  haste  to  be  rich  shall  not  be  innocent.” 
(Prov.  xxviii.  20.) 

“Trust  not  in  oppression,  and  become  not  vain  in  rob¬ 
bery:  if  riches  increase,  set  not  your  heart  upon  them.” 
(Ps.  Ixii.  10.) 

“He  that  trusteth  in  his  riches  shall  fall:  but  the 
righteous  shall  flourish  as  a  branch.”  (Prov.  xi.  28.) 

*  *  “how  hard  is  it  for  them  that  trust  in  riches  to 

enter  into  the  kingdom  of  God!”  (Mark,  x.  24;  see  Matt, 
xix.  21,  etc.,  Luke,  xviii.  23,  etc.) 

“Charge  them  that  are  rich  in  this  world  that  they 
be  not  high-minded,  nor  trust  in  uncertain  riches,  but  in 
the  living  God,  who  giveth  us  richly  all  things  to  enjoy.” 
(1  Tim.  vi.  17.) 

“Riches  profit  not  in  the  day  of  wrath;  but  righteous¬ 
ness  delivereth  from  death.”  (Prov.  xi.  4.) 

“There  is  an  evil  which  I  have  seen  under  the  sun, 
and  it  is  common  among  men; 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


591 


“A  man  to  whom  God  hath  given  riches,  wealth  and 
honour,  so  that  he  wanteth  nothing  for  his  soul  of  all 
that  he  desireth,  yet  God  giveth  him  not  power  to  eat 
thereof,  but  a  stranger  eateth  it.  This  is  vanity,  and  it 
is  an  evil  disease.”  (Eccl.  vi.  1,  2.) 

“In  the  house  of  the  righteous  is  much  treasure:  but 
in  the  revenues  of  the  wicked  is  trouble.”  (Prov.  xv.  6.) 
“He  that  loveth  silver  shall  not  be  satisfied  with  silver; 
nor  he  that  loveth  abundance  with  increase.”  (Eccl.  v.  10.) 

“Surely  every  man  walketh  in  a  vain  show;  surely 
they  are  disquieted  in  vain:  he  heapeth  up  riches,  and 
knoweth  not  who  shall  gather  them.”  (Ps.  xxxix.  vi.) 

“Wilt  thou  set  thine  eyes  upon  that  which  is  not?  for 
riches  certainly  make  themselves  wings;  they  fly  awray 
as  an  eagle  toward  heaven.”  (Prov.  xxiii.  5.) 

“  He  that  hasteth  to  be  rich  hath  an  evil  eye,  and  con- 
sidereth  not  that  poverty  shall  come  upon  him.”  (Prov. 
xxviii.  22.) 

“Remove  far  from  me  vanity  and  lies:  give  me  neither 
poverty  nor  riches;  feed  me  with  food  convenient  for 
me :  Lest  I  be  full,  and  deny  thee,  and  say,  Who  is  the 
Lord?  or  lest  I  be  poor,  and  steal,  and  take  the  name  of 
my  God  in  vain.”  (Prov.  xxx.  8,  9.)  “Give  us  this  day 
our  daily  bread.”  (Matt.  vi.  11.)  “A  little  that  a  right¬ 
eous  man  hath  is  better  than  the  riches  of  many  wicked.” 
(Ps.  xxxvii.  16.)  “There  is  that  maketh  himself  rich, 
yet  hath  nothing:  there  is  that  maketh  himself  poor,  yet 
hath  great  riches.”  (Prov.  xiii.  T.) 

“  Better  is  little  with  the  fear  of  the  Lord,  than  great 
treasure  and  trouble  therewith.”  (Prov.  xv.  16.) 


502 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


“  Better  is  a  little  with  righteousness,  than  great  reve¬ 
nues  without  right.”  (Prov.  xvi.  8.) 

“  Better  is  the  poor  that  walketh  in  his  uprightness, 
than  he  that  is  perverse  in  his  ways,  though  he  be  rich.” 
(Prov.  xxviii.  6.) 

“  Better  is  a  handful  with  quietness,  than  both  the 
hands  full  with  travail  and  vexation  of  spirit.”  (Eccl. 
iv.  5.) 

“I  have  been  young,  and  now  am  old;  yet  have  I  not 
seen  the  righteous  forsaken,  nor  his  seed  begging  bread.” 
(Ps.  xxxvii.  25.)  *  *  “but  godliness  is  profitable  unto 

all  things,  having  promise  of  the  life  that  now  is,  and 
of  that  which  is  to  come.”  (1  Tim.  iv.  8.) 

“For  the  poor  shall  never  cease  out  of  the  land:  there¬ 
fore  I  command  thee,  saying,  Thou  shalt  open  thine  hand 
wide  unto  thy  brother,  to  thy  poor,  and  to  thy  needy,  in 
thy  land.”  (Deut.  xv.  11.) 

“Whoso  mocketh  the  poor  reproacheth  his  Maker; 
and  he  that  is  glad  at  calamities  shall  not  be  unpun¬ 
ished.”  (Prov.  xvii.  5.) 

“For  ye  have  the  poor  always  with  you;  but  me  ye 
have  not  always.”  (Matt.  xxvi.  11;  also,  Mark,  xiv.  7.) 

Diligence  in  business  commended — and  idleness  de¬ 
nounced. 

“Six  days  thou  shalt  labour,  and  do  all  thy  work.” 
(Deut.  v.  13.) 

“Love  not  sleep,  lest  thou  come  to  poverty:  open 
thine  eyes,  and  thou  shalt  be  satisfied  with  bread.” 
(Prov.  xx.  13.) 

“Be  thou  diligent  to  know  the  state  of  thy  flocks,  and 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


look  well  to  thy  herds:  For  riches  are  not  for  ever:  and 
doth  the  crown  endure  to  every  generation?”  (Prov. 
xxvii.  23,  24.) 

“And  the  man  Jeroboam  was  a  mighty  man  of  valour; 
and  Solomon  seeing  the  young  man  that  he  was  indus¬ 
trious,  he  made  him  ruler  over  all  the  charge  of  the 
house  of  Joseph.”  (1  Kings,  xi.  28.) 

“The  thoughts  of  the  diligent  tend  only  to  plenteous¬ 
ness;  but  every  one  that  is  hasty  only  to  want.”  (Prov. 
xxi.  5.) 

“Seest  thou  a  man  diligent  in  his  business?  he  shall 
stand  before  kin^s;  he  shall  not  stand  before  mean  men.” 
(Prov.  xxii.  29.) 

“She  looketh  well  to  the  ways  of  her  household,  and 
eateth  not  the  bread  of  idleness.”  (Prov.  xxxi.  27.) 

“He  becometh  poor  that  dealeth  with  a  slack  hand: 
but  the  hand  of  the  diligent  maketh  rich.”  (Prov. 
x.  4.) 

“  He  that  gathereth  in  summer  is  a  wise  son :  but  he 
that  sleepeth  in  harvest  is  a  son  that  causeth  shame.” 
(Prov.  x.  5.) 

“The  hand  of  the  diligent  shall  bear  rule:  but  the 
slothful  shall  be  under  tribute.”  (Prov.  xii.  24.) 

“The  soul  of  the  sluggard  desireth,  and  hath  nothing, 
but  the  soul  of  the  diligent  shall  be  made  fat.”  (Prov. 
xiii.  4.) 

“The  way  of  the  slothful  man  is  as  a  hedge  of  thorns: 
but  the  way  of  the  righteous  is  made  plain.”  (Prov.  xv. 
19.) 

“He  that  tilleth  his  land  shall  have  plenty  of  bread; 

vol.  hi. — 38 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


but  lie  that  followeth  after  vain  persons  shall  have  pov¬ 
erty  enough;’  (Prov.  xxviii.  19.) 

“lie  also  that  is  slothful  in  his  work  is  brother  to  him 
that  is  a  great  waster.”  (Prov.  xviii.  9.) 

“The  slothful  man  saith,  There  is  a  lion  without,  I 
shall  be  slain  in  the  streets.”  (Prov.  xxii.  13.) 

“The  slothful  man  saith,  There  is  a  lion  in  the  way,  a 
lion  is  in  the  streets.”  (Prov.  xxvi.  13.) 

“The  sluggard  is  wiser  in  his  own  conceit  than  seven 
men  that  can  render  a  reason.”  (Prov.  xxvi.  16.) 

“I  went  by  the  field  of  the  slothful,”  etc.  (Prov.  xxiv. 
30,  31,  32.) 

“Go  to  the  ant,  thou  sluggard,”  etc.  (Prov.  vi.  6,  7,  8, 
9,  10.) 

“Slothfulness  casteth  into  a  deep  sleep;  and  an  idle 
soul  shall  suffer  hunger.”  (Prov.  xix.  15.) 

“The  sluggard  will  not  plow  by  reason  of  the  cold; 
therefore  shall  he  beg  in  harvest,  and  have  nothing.” 
(Prov.  xx.  4.) 

“For  the  drunkard  and  the  glutton  shall  come  to 
poverty:  and  drowsiness  shall  clothe  a  man  with  rags.” 
(Prov.  xxiii.  21.) 

“Yet  a  little  sleep,  a  little  slumber,  a  little  folding  of 
the  hands  to  sleep:  so  shall  thy  poverty  come  as  one 
that  travelleth  and  thy  want  as  an  armed  man.”  (Prov. 
xxiv.  33,  34.) 

“He  that  loveth  pleasure  shall  be  a  poor  man;  he 
that  loveth  wine  and  oil  shall  not  be  rich.”  (Prov. 
xxi.  17.) 

“When  they  were  filled,  he  said  unto  his  disciples, 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


595 


Gather  up  the  fragments  that  remain,  that  nothing  be 
lost.’’  (John,  vi.  12.) 

“But  if  any  provide  not  for  his  own,  and  especially  for 
those  of  his  own  house,  he  hath  denied  the  faith,  and  is 
worse  than  an  infidel.”  (1  Tim.  v.  8.) 

“Not  slothful  in  business;  fervent  in  spirit;  serving 
the  Lord.”  (Rom.  xii.  11.) 

“For  even  when  we  were  with  you,  this  we  com¬ 
manded  you,  that  if  any  would  not  work,  neither  should 
he  eat.”  (2  Thess.  iii.  10.) 

“And  he  said  unto  them,  Take  heed  and  beware  of 
covetousness:  for  a  man’s  life  consisteth  not  in  the  abund¬ 
ance  of  the  things  which  he  possesseth.”  (Luke,  xii.  15.) 

“Let  no  man  seek  his  own,  but  every  man  another’s 
wealth.”  (1  Cor.  x.  24.) 

“Look  not  every  man  on  his  own  things,  but  every 
man  also  on  things  of  others.”  (Phil.  ii.  4.) 

“But  they  that  will  be  rich  fall  into  temptation,  and 
a  snare,  and  into  many  foolish  and  hurtful  lusts,  which 
drown  men  in  destruction  and  perdition.”  (1  Tim.  vi.  9.) 

“For  the  love  of  money  is  the  root  of  all  evil;  which, 
while  some  coveted  after,  they  have  erred  from  the  faith, 
and  pierced  themselves  through  with  many  sorrows.” 
(1  Tim.  vi.  10.)  *  *  “neither  shalt  thou  covet  thy 

neighbour’s  house,”  etc.  (Deut.  v.  21.) 

The  poor  man  is  quite  as  likely  to  covet — and  to  be 
covetous — to  be  dishonest,  venal,  selfish,  false,  deceitful, 
reckless, — as  the  rich.  Who  are  the  most  useful  mem¬ 
bers  of  society?  Not  the  idle,  intemperate,  careless, 
profligate,  thriftless,  do-nothing,  beggarly,  classes  or 


59G 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


individuals.  In  our  country  there  is  no  poor  caste — - 
like  the  peasantry  or  serfs  of  Europe.  No  healthy  man, 
who  is  industrious,  sober,  frugal,  virtuous  and  perse¬ 
vering,  need  ever  be  a  pauper,  or  a  dependant  on  the 
charities  of  others.  He  can  and  will  create  a  path  to 
manly  independence.  Our  richest  and  worthiest  citizens 
have  made  their  own  fortunes  and  risen  to  eminence  in 
Church  or  State  by  their  own  efforts  and  enterprise. 
These  constitute  the  best  portion  of  our  citizens.  They 
have  made  our  country  what  it  is — the  most  beautiful, 
flourishing,  abundant  and  prosperous  of  all  lands;  the 
home  of  the  persecuted  and  oppressed  of  every  nation. 
Hopeless,  invincible,  incurable  poverty  among  us,  is  the 
result  of  sheer  idleness  or  vice.  A  drunken  husband  and 
father  may  render  a  wife  and  children  miserable  and  the 
proper  objects  of  charity  and  beneficence.  And  there 
will  ever  be  sufferers  from  sickness  or  misfortune— re¬ 
quiring  aid,  etc.  The  poor  widow  and  orphan  must  be 
cared  for. 

Demagogues  in  the  pulpit,  at  the  hustings,  in  the  halls 
of  legislation,  and  at  popular  meetings  of  all  sorts,  are 
very  much  in  the  habit  of  declaiming  against  the  rich— 
as  if  they  were  criminal  oppressors  of  the  poor — as  if 
they  had  amassed  their  wealth  by  dishonest  means  or  by 
hard  dealing  with  the  poor,  etc.  And  thus  they  strive 
to  create  and  keep  up  sentiments  of  hostility  towards 
the  rich,  as  the  natural  enemies  of  the  poor,  etc. 

Nine-tenths  of  the  paupers  in  our  cities  are  foreigners 
— and  most  of  them  Romanists,  etc. 

The  terms  wealth ,  riches ,  etc.,  are  comparative.  The 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


597 


possessor  of  a  few  thousands  in  the  country  is  accounted 
rich — while  in  the  large  cities,  scores  and  hundreds  of 
thousands  would  be  required  to  entitle  a  man  to  such 
enviable  distinction.  Thus,  I  read  in  the  American 
Messenger  of  January,  1855,  that  the  income  of  William 
B.  Astor,  of  New  York,  is  one  million  two  hundred 
thousand  dollars  per  annum.  Again,  in  the  New  York 
Observer  of  December  28,  1854,  it  is  said:  “The  estate 
of  the  late  Anson  G.  Phelps  foots  up  at  $2,500,000,  (two 
and  a  half  millions.)  He  was  a  Connecticut  boy,  and 
carried  nothing  but  his  hands  and  brains  to  New  York.” 

“The  tax  of  Nicholas  Longworth,  of  Cincinnati, 
amounts  this  year  to  $40,000.”  (N.  A.  Tribune  of 

Jan.  5,  1855.) 

All  combinations  of  mechanics,  tradesmen  and  la¬ 
bourers  to  establish  arbitrary  or  fixed  prices  for  work 
or  commodities — and  strikes  for  higher  wages— are  un¬ 
wise,  impolitic,  anti-republican,  and  greatly  injurious 
to  the  parties  intended  to  be  benefited.  It  is  a  self- 
imposed  check  upon  industry,  economy,  enterprise  and 
wholesome  competition.  It  reduces  all  to  a  dead  level. 
It  is  opposed  to  the  principle  of  free  trade  and  free 
action.  Why  should  not  the  employer  and  the  em¬ 
ployed,  in  all  cases,  be  at  liberty  to  make  their  own 
contracts  without  fear  or  control  —  without  dread  of 
frown  or  penalty  from  any  club  or  association,  or  of 
violence  under  Lynch  law?  Look  too  at  the  expense — 
the  tax  actually  levied  upon  the  members  —  of  every 
such  combination.  The  loss  of  time — idle  and  wasteful 
habits  acquired — the  discouragement  of  all  manly  aspi- 


598 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


rations,  of  all  self-reliance,  of  all  desire  or  effort  towards 
an  advanced  or  improved  condition,  etc.  “Live,  and 
let  live.”  Let  every  man  be  free  to  work— free  to  earn, 
to  save,  to  enjoy  the  fruit  of  bis  labours — to  become  rich 
if  lie  will  or  if  he  can.  Let  the  law  protect  him  in  all 
honest  pursuits — and  encourage  him  to  better  his  condi¬ 
tion  by  virtuous  industry,  economy  and  enterprise. 

Again,  the  labouring  and  poorer  classes  are  exceed¬ 
ingly  prone  to  join  various  expensive  (and  often  demor¬ 
alizing)  associations — such  as  Freemason,  Oddfellows, 
Washingtonian,  and  others  political  or  military,  or 
merely  festive.  Even  the  ordinary  city  fire  companies 
are  so  organized  as  to  become  burdensome  to  the  mem¬ 
bers.  Compute  the  waste  of  time  in  their  public 
meetings  and  parades  and  celebrations — and  at  the 
funerals  of  their  brethren — the  cost  of  uniform  or  dis¬ 
tinctive  dresses,  insignia,  regalia,  etc. 

Every  city  has  its  volunteer  finely  equipped  militia  com¬ 
panies — of  no  manner  of  use,  except  to  show  off  in  the 
streets,  and  to  pay  large  bills  at  hotels,  etc.  Here,  in 
New  Albany,  on  the  8th  of  January,  1855,  the  “  Spen¬ 
cer  Greys,”  headed  by  the  “Banner  Band,”  “turned 
out  on  a  dress  parade  and  target  excursion.  Their 
beautiful  and  soldierly  appearance  attracted  great  admi¬ 
ration.  In  the  evening  the  ‘  Greys,’  with  the  ‘  Banner 
Band,’  and  a  number  of  invited  guests,  sat  down  to  a 
magnificent  supper  at  the  De  Pauw  House,”  etc.  Thus 
(and  much  more)  writes  the  Editor  of  the  New  Albany 
Daily  Tribune  of  this  morning — Jan.  10,  1855.  I  hap¬ 
pened  to  witness  a  part  of  the  street  spectacle ,  and 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


509 


thought  it  rather  a  sorry  affair.  At  midnight,  I  was 
aroused  from  sleep  by  a  tremendous  uproar  in  the 
street,  occasioned  by  the  light-headed  “Greys”  after 
supper,  etc. 

The  poor  also  in  cities  frequent  the  theatre,  circus, 
balls,  musical  concerts,  dancing  parties,  drinking  shops, 
gambling  houses,  and  all  sorts  of  amusements,  shows, 
frolics,  —  of  fun,  folly,  vice  and  ruin.  Our  cities  are 
filled  with  European  paupers— and  the  New  York 
papers  abound  in  descriptions  of  suffering,  wretched¬ 
ness,  destitution  and  beggary,  without  a  parallel  hith¬ 
erto  in  our  country.  The  city  is  threatened  with 
violence  by  the  starving  poor,  etc.  It  is  now  mid¬ 
winter,  (Jan.  11,  1855,)  and  the  dread  of  riots,  tumults, 
mobs,  etc.  is  daily  increasing. 

Among  the  plans  of  aiding  the  suffering  poor,  are 
balls,  concerts,  fairs,  etc. — the  net  proceeds  to  be  appro¬ 
priated  to  their  relief.  This  is  bad,  mischievous,  un¬ 
christian.  It  is  holding  out  a  premium  to  folly,  mirth, 
expensive  extravagance  and  dissipation,  under  the  garb 
and  plea  of  charity,  benevolence,  philanthropy,  etc. 
But  small  sums  are  raised  in  this  way  at  best,  compared 
with  the  amount  actually  expended  in  getting  up  such 
fashionable  amusements.  Why  not  give  the  whole 
and  dispense  with  amusement  altogether?  Our  good 
church-going  people  seem  to  think  that,  in  this  case  at 
least,  the  end  will  sanctify  or  justify  the  means.  Or 
that  it  is  lawful  to  do  evil  that  good  may  come,  etc. 

Poverty  is  nowhere  represented  in  Scripture  as  a 
desirable  state.  But  like  sickness,  blindness,  deafness, 


600 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


persecution — it  is  regarded  and  treated  as  a  misfortune 
or  a  punishment. 

That  some  men  may  be  providentially  called  to  labour 
without  any  visible  means  of  support,  is  most  true: — as 
were  the  apostles,  evangelists,  and  many  of  the  primi¬ 
tive  Christians:  and  as  are  not  a  few  of  the  ministers 
and  missionaries  of  our  own  times.  All  such  have  a 
right  to  trust  in  God  for  their  daily  bread  and  for  the 
supply  of  their  daily  wants.  It  is  both  their  duty  and 
their  privilege.  They  live  by  faith,  etc. 

But  even  in  the  days  of  Christ  and  the  Apostles,  men 
were  not  condemned  merely  because  they  were  rich  or 
powerful — as  in  the  case  of  Herod,  Agrippa,  Festus, 
Felix,  etc.  Nor  were  the  rich  required  to  become  poor 
when  they  became  converts  to  the  Christian  faith — as 
witness  Cornelius. 

Even  Ananias  and  Sapphira  were  doomed  to  death, 
not  for  possessing  wealth,  but  for  lying  to  the  Holy 
Ghost,  etc. 

The  instance  of  the  rich  young  ruler,  as  given  by 
Mark,  (chap.  x.  17  to  21,)  and  by  Luke,  (chap,  xviii.  18 
to  23,)  is  no  exception  to  the  general  rule  or  fact  or 
doctrine.  The  above  young  man  appealed  to  Jesus  for 
direction,  as  to  one  whose  authority  he  fully  acknowl¬ 
edged,  and  whose  instructions  or  commands  he  was 
therefore  bound  to  obey.  And  Jesus,  knowing  the 
deceitfulness  of  his  heart,  and  the  vanity  of  all  his 
pretensions  to  a  legal  righteousness,  imposed  a  trial  or 
test  which  would  clearly  demonstrate  his  real  character, 
etc.  None  but  He,  or  those  inspired  by  His  Spirit, 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


601 


could  do  this,  or  be  justified  in  the  attempt  to  do  it. 
A  most  important  truth  or  principle,  of  universal  appli¬ 
cation,  is  undoubtedly  inculcated  by  the  divine  Master: 
namely,  the  danger  of  riches  or  of  trusting  in  riches; 
and  the  duty  of  instantly  relinquishing  wealth  and 
every  earthly  distinction  when  in  conflict  with  our 
obedience  to  God. 

On  the  subject  of  educating  the  poor — of  providing 
for  their  wants — and  of  ameliorating  their  condition — 
many  seasonable  and  sensible  remarks  may  be  found  in 
Chalmers.  See  Chapter  14, — “On  a  compulsory  provi¬ 
sion  for  the  indigent”  —  and  Chapter  15,  —  “On  the 
Christian  education  of  the  people” — of  the  “Political 
Economy”  of  Thomas  Chalmers,  D.D. 

See  a  good  article  in  Hall’s  Journal  of  Health  for 
Dec.,  1854,  on  “"Health,  Wealth  and  Religion.” 

“So  likewise,  whosoever  he  be  of  you  that  forsaketh 
not  all  that  he  hath,  he  cannot  be  my  disciple,”  Luke 
xiv.  33.  “  If  any  man  come  to  me,  and  hate  not  his 

father,  and  mother,  and  wife,  and  children,  and  breth¬ 
ren,  and  sisters,  yea,  and  his  own  life  also,  he  cannot  be 
my  disciple.”  Luke  xiv.  26. 

Of  course,  whenever  the  alternative  or  choice  lies 
between  Christ  and  the  world  —  its  wealth,  honours, 
domestic  relations  or  life  itself — we  must  abandon  all 
for  Christ. 


THE  WHISTLE.* 


[This  and  the  next  eleven  articles,  as  indicated  by  a  note  in  the 
author’s  manuscript,  “form  but  a  few  of  many  scores  of  light  essays ” 
which  he  occasionally  furnished  the  newspapers  in  Nashville,  over 
various  signatures  and  upon  all  sorts  of  topics.  Indeed,  in  his  high 
estimate  of  the  press  as  a  vehicle  of  instruction,  he  was  in  the  habit 
of  reproducing  his  longer  discourses  in  a  series  of  short  essays  in  the 
newspapers.] 

“  Distance  lends  enchantment  to  the  view,”  is  not  a 
mere  poetical  fancy — it  is  a  serious  practical  fallacy, 
which  is  constantly  imposing  on  our  good  people  in 
sundry  forms  and  ways.  We  rarely  value  what  is  at 
home  and  within  everybody’s  reach.  Our  own  substan¬ 
tial  manufactures— our  native  literature — our  domestic 
customs,  fashions  and  institutions — all  are  comparatively 
worthless,  insipid,  un genteel  or  vulgar.  We  look  abroad 
— across  the  ocean — or  to  the  far  East — for  whatever  is 
beautiful,  classical,  ingenious  or  tasteful.  Is  a  youth  to 
be  educated  in  grand  style?  He  must,  forsooth,  be  sent 
on  a  pilgrimage  to  some  celebrated  Athens  beyond  the 
Great  Mountains — there  to  renoicn  as  a  Southern ,  with 
plenty  of  cash  and  credit,  half  a  dozen  years,  until  he 
shall  be  proclaimed  moribus  inculjoatus ,  liter isque  humani- 
oribus  imbutus  by  the  grave,  veracious  and  most  dis¬ 
interested  Senatus  Academicus  of  the  said  metropolitan 
Headquarters  of  Minerva  and  the  Muses. 

*  Printed  in  the  Nashville  Herald ,  December  8,  1831,  over  the 
signature  of  F.  G.  F. 

(602) 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


C03 


It  is  not  to  be  presumed  that  a  young  gentleman  can 
be  accomplished  in  Greek  or  philosophy  this  side  of  the 
Potomac,  or  at  a  less  cost  than  a  thousand  dollars  per 
year.  Parents  and  the  public  generally,  are  prone  to 
estimate  intellectual  furniture,  as  they  do  all  other 
things,  by  the  price  paid  for  the  commodity.  Thus, 
two  thousand  dollars’  worth  of  learning  must,  of  course, 

be  tenfold  greater  in  amount  and  value  than  two  hun- 

* 

dred  dollars’  worth.  The  latter  may  be  easily  attained 
here  in  the  backwoods — but  then  it  is  not  a  thing  to  talk 
about  and  to  boast  of — it  is  an  every-day  affair — it  con¬ 
fers  no  eclat — creates  no  sensation — makes  nobody  stare 
— attracts  no  particular  notice-— and  commands  no  admi¬ 
ration. 

Men,  as  well  as  children,  often  pay  dear  for  their 
■whistles.  There  are,  at  this  time,  at  least  five  hundred 
Southern  and  Western  youth  at  Eastern  Seminaries — 
where  they  expend  annually  half  a  million  of  dollars  to 
encourage  and  sustain  a  foreign  monopoly  of  education; 
while  our  patriotic  and  economical  sages  never  dream 
of  adopting  any  measures  to  retain  this  vast  amount  of 
wealth  within  their  own  States.  Nor  do  they  seem  to 
have  suspected  that  the  money  thus  squandered  abroad, 
during  every  ten  years,  would  amply  endow  as  many 
first-rate  colleges  at  home  as  would  meet  the  wants  of 
all  their  fellow -citizens  for  a  century  to  come.  The 
Southern  funds  lavished  upon  Cambridge  and  New 
Haven  alone,  in  a  single  year,  would  create  a  univer¬ 
sity  equal  to  Harvard  or  Yale  in  any  part  of  our  South¬ 
ern  or  Western  wilderness.  Whether  colleges  are  de- 


G04 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


signed  for  the  rich  or  the  poor — for  wise  men  or  fools 
• — it  matters  not;  they  will  be  frequented;  and  if  not 
established  upon  the  banks  of  the  Ohio,  the  Mississippi 
or  the  Cumberland,  our  dollars  will  continue,  as  hitherto, 
to  adorn  and  enrich  the  banks  of  the  Delaware,  the 
Hudson  and  the  Connecticut. 

But,  after  all,  would  a  home  college  be  patronized? 
Could  our  genteel  people  be  made  to  believe  that  their 
sons  might  be  educated  as  well  in  Tennessee,  for  exam¬ 
ple,  as  in  Massachusetts?  Would  not  an  Eastern  grad¬ 
uate  be  looked  up  to  as  a  superior  animal  ?  and  would 
not  he  look  down  upon  the  plain  home-bred  native  as  a 
barbarian  and  a  sciolist?  Public  opinion  is  omnipotent. 
It  cannot  be  resisted  or  controlled.  Solomon  himself 
would  be  voted  non  comjios,  were  he  to  prefer  his  claims 
in  any  other  than  the  orthodox  fashion — as  settled  by 
custom  and  usage.  Were  Oxford,  with  the  glories  of  a 
thousand  years,  to  be  suddenly  transplanted  upon  the 
picturesque  hills  which  surround  our  fair  village,  it  would 
be  slighted  and  undervalued,  so  long  as  the  rage  is  in 
favour  of  distant  or  foreign  institutions. 

Whether  this  folly  will  last  forever,  I  leave  sub  judice. 
That  there  are  pretty  strong  indications  of  its  present 
existence,  I  infer  from  the  fact  that  we  have  at  our  doors 
a  university,  which  intelligent  strangers  never  fail  to 
compliment  in  the  highest  terms,  and  to  pronounce  supe¬ 
rior  in  many  respects  to  most  of  those  which  are  famous  at 
the  East,— while  it  is  scarcely  known  to  our  own  citizens, 
and,  in  comparison  with  their  magnificent  penitentiary, 
is  regarded  as  a  very  small  concern.  I  infer  the  exist- 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


605 


ence  of  this  or  some  other  folly  also  from  the  fact,  that 
we  have  amongst  us  so  many  juvenile  idlers  of  one  sort 
and  another,  between  the  ages  of  fifteen  and  twenty, 
who  appear  to  be  utterly  unconscious  of  the  vicinity 
of  an  establishment  purposely  designed  for  intellectual 
improvement, — or  who  neglect  it  because  it  may  not  yet 
have  acquired  a  European  or  national  reputation. 

Here,  for  instance,  is  a  well  constructed  and  richly 
furnished  chemical  laboratory — an  apparatus  for  every 
department  of  experimental  science — a  cabinet  of  miner¬ 
alogy  and  natural  history  unsurpassed  by  any  in  the 
United  States, — where  the  laws  of  the  universe,  the 
structure  and  formations  of  the  earth,  the  products  of 
the  field,  the  forest,  the  mine,  the  ocean,  the  air — with 
all  the  curious  phenomena  of  nature  and  art — may  be 
studied  under  the  most  auspicious  circumstances  and  at 
the  least  possible  expense.  Why  do  not  professional 
students  and  the  younger  graduates  avail  themselves 
of  privileges  which  they  could  not  command,  at  this 
moment,  for  any  money,  even  in  the  largest  Eastern 
city  ?  Presently,  the  golden  opportunity  will  have 
passed  away;  and  they  will  regret  through  life,  their 
deficiency  in  those  varied  literary  and  scientific  stores 
which  are  essential  to  the  highest  order  of  influence  and 
usefulness,  and  which  might  now  be  so  easily  accumu¬ 
lated. 

Here  they  may  learn  Greek — and  Tennessee  Greek  is 
just  as  good  as  Yankee  Greek — and  when  they  have 
mastered  Greek  thoroughly,  it  will  be  a  pleasure  to  learn 
any  other  language,  ancient  or  modern.  They  may  learn 


606 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


Hebrew,  too,  and  Latin — and  with  a  knowledge  of  the 
Latin,  the  French,  Spanish  and  Italian  may  each  be  read 
in  a  few  months  without  much  labour. 

Here  they  may  learn  that  much-lauded,  and — among 
a  money-making  people — the  chief  of  sciences,  vulgar 
arithmetic — in  such  manner  too  as  would  rejoice  the 
heart  of  any  merchant,  banker  or  usurer  in  Christen¬ 
dom.  Here  the  whole  range  of  Mathematics,  theoretic 
and  practical,  up  to  the  ne  plus  ultra  of  West  Point 
perfection,  may  be  gone  over  by  the  aspiring  tyro  with 
as  much  facility  and  delight  as  the  boarding-school  Miss 
runs  through  the  last  Waverley. 

Here  the  philosophers  stone  and  the  elixir  of  life — or 
the  best  substitute  for  both — will  be  put  into  the  hands 
(or  the  upper  stories)  of  all  the  clever  lads  who  shall  be 
duly  initiated  into  the  higher  or  esoteric  mysteries  by  the 
long-headed  magician  of  the  laboratory. 

Here,  in  short,  lawyers,  doctors,  parsons,  merchants, 
farmers,  mechanics,  artists,  schoolmasters,  surveyors, 
engineers,  politicians,  statesmen,  judges,  editors,  poets, 
orators,  Jackson  men  and  Clay  men — may  all  be  trained 
up  for  their  several  destinations,  and  be  fitted  to  act  well 
their  parts  upon  the  grand  theatre  of  human  selfishness, 
intrigue,  ambition  and  littleness;  or  in  the  humble  vale 
of  innocence,  peace,  benevolence,  kindness  and  charity. 
And  cheaply ,  I  ween,  will  ye  buy  your  whistles. 


GENTEEL  BEGGARS.* 


Merry  Old  England  is  said  to  be  the  most  gullible 
country  in  the  world.  And  London  is  the  very  para¬ 
dise  of  quacks,  empirics,  mountebanks,  rogues,  fanatics, 
impostors  and  vagabonds  of  all  sorts  and  degrees.  We 
seem  to  have  inherited  the  facile  and  credulous  tempera¬ 
ment  which  has  characterized  worthy  John  Bull  in  all 
ages.  Our  happy  republic  is  an  asylum  not  merely  for 
the  miserable  and  oppressed,  but  for  the  refuse  of  every 
prison  and  gallows  in  the  whole  world.  Now  and  then 
a  pirate  or  murderer  is  caught  and  hanged  to  be  sure — 
but  the  chances  of  escape  are  as  ten  to  one  in  favour  of 
the  cunning  foreigner,  whatever  may  have  been  his 
crimes  or  his  occupation.  If  a  London  banking  house, 
or  jeweler’s  shop,  the  boudoir  of  a  Dutch  princess  or 
Parisian  belle,  happen  to  be  robbed — why,  to  this  land 
of  promise  and  charitable  oblivion,  the  lucky  swindlers 
instantly  direct  their  flight,  as  if  assured  of  a  safe  and 
honourable  retreat.  They  have  only  to  assume  big 
names,  to  show  off  and  spend  their  shiners  freely,  and 
they  presently  become  all  the  rage.  Our  ladies  never 
fail  to  smile  graciously  on  wealth  and  family  from 
abroad.  A  German  baron,  an  Italian  count,  a  Spanish 

*  Printed  in  the  National  Banner ,  December  16,  1831,  over  the 
signature  of  G.  F.  G. 


(607) 


G08 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


don,  an  English  sir,  a  French  marquis — sweet  creatures 
— they  have  only  to  say  the  word,  and  our  blushing  fair 
ones  will  accompany  them  forthwith  to  Hymen’s  altar, 
with  all  the  confidence  of  young  affection  and  romantic 
inspiration.  Although  it  does  occasionally  turn  out, 
that  before  the  honey  moon  is  well  over,  some  unman¬ 
nerly  Hays  gets  the  gemman  by  the  collar  and  straight 
conducts  him  nolens  volens  to  ready  furnished  lodgings  in 
Bridewell. 

Well,  I  have  seen  Manchester  clerks  and  travellers  in 
our  Eastern  cities,  assuming  all  the  airs  and  knowing 
self-sufficiency  and  supercilious  bearing  of  my  lord’s 
valets  and  footmen.  I  have  seen  them  looked  up  to,  and 
stared  at,  and  run  after,  and  caressed  and  feasted,  and 
toasted,  as  veritable  English  lions — by  our  great  folks. 
When  will  American  republicans  learn  to  respect  them¬ 
selves,  and  be  too  proud  to  be  dazzled  and  befooled  by 
the  shadows  and  apery  of  glittering  titles,  which  may 
be  prefixed  or  appended  to  the  names  or  tails  of  the 
veriest  simpletons,  blockheads  or  libertines  in  Chris¬ 
tendom  ? 

But  ad  rem.  Our  country  is  infested  with  a  legion  of 
impudent  foreign  beggars,  who  are  prowling  about  like 
hungry  wolves,  and  preying  upon  the  very  vitals  of  the 
body  politic.  They  are  absolutely  extorting  our  hard 
earned  dollars  by  the  cart  loads,  and  under  the  most 
absurd  and  mendacious  pretexts. 

One  day  comes  a  Turk,  shipwrecked  on  the  coast  of 
Labrador  or  Cape  Horn — no  matter  where — the  further 
off  the  better.  He  can’t  speak  a  word  of  English,  of 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


GOO 


course.  He  thrusts  a  paper  into  your  face,  stands 
pensively  mute,  looks  wise  and  prepossessing,  and 
mighty  honest.  You  read  his  tale  of  wo,  certified  by 
sundry  well-known  civil  magistrates  and  learned  pro¬ 
fessors— give  him  a  dollar,  and  receive  his  silent  but 
expressive  benediction  —  and  next  day  read  in  the 
gazette  that  the  said  forlorn,  wandering,  penny  less 
Turk  is  a  downright,  full-blooded,  native  Vermonter! 
He  passes  on  however,  from  village  to  village,  and  enacts 
the  same  part  everywhere  with  equal  success.  He  is 
proclaimed  as  an  impostor  in  every  newspaper.  Still, 
from  Bennington  to  St.  Louis,  he  contrives  to  cheat 
every  man  he  meets  with.  He  was  here  in  Nashville 
about  eighteen  months  ago,  and  honoured  my  lonely 
cottage  with  a  call;  and  though  I  had  read  all  about 
his  Turkship  a  year  before,  yet  I  could  not  prevail  on 
my  lady  purse-keeper  to  withhold  the  customary  dollar. 
He  seemed  so  ingenuous,  so  friendly,  so  like  a  Turk,  so 
un-American,  there  was  no  resisting  his  appeal  direct  to 
the  purse.  His  lingo  too,  when  he  did  speak,  was  pure 
classical  Arabic,  as  anybody  could  perceive  —  conse¬ 
quently  he  was  well  educated.  He  was  perfectly  gen¬ 
teel,  and  utterly  above  the  servile  artifices  of  vulgar 
beggars; — ergo,  he  was  a  son  of  the  Grand  Sultan,  or  a 
pasha  (pacha)  with  three  tails  at  least.  And  he  might 
condescend  to  carry  off  a  dozen  or  score  of  our  lovely 
damsels  to  enliven  his  princely  harem  in  the  proud  City 
of  Constantine — and  who  could  withstand  such  eloquent 
pretensions? 

True,  this  pretty  exquisite  was  but  a  home-bred 

vol.  hi. — 39 


G10 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


Yankee  after  all.  Still,  Yankee-like,  he  understood  the 
foible  of  his  countrymen,  and  knew  precisely  in  what 
garb  to  address  himself  to  their  sympathies  and  to  their 
vanity.  He  therefore  went  forth  to  seek  adventures  as 
a  foreigner  of  rank.  And  he  is  probably  going  the 
rounds  at  this  day. — If  not  as  a  Turkish  heir  apparent, 
yet  as  a  Chinese  Mandarin,  or  Hindu  Pundit,  or  Egyp¬ 
tian  Sheik,  or  Grecian  Hospodar,  or  Wallachian  Yaivode, 
or  Polish  General  just  escaped  from  the  tender  mercies 
of  a  Russian  Court-martial. 

Italian  and  Sicilian  beggars  have  been  traversing  our 
country  for  some  thirty  years  past.  I  have  encountered 
the  same  individuals  repeatedly.  They  are  always 
provided  with  the  most  satisfactory  and  well-authenti¬ 
cated  testimonials — of  which,  by-the-way,  there  is  said 
to  be  a  regular  manufactory  in  Philadelphia,  where  all 
sorts  of  signatures  and  seals  may  be  procured  for  a 
trifle.  Their  usual  pretext  is,  that  a  village  or  convent 
has  been  destroyed  by  fire,  an  avalanche,  a  volcano,  or 
an  earthquake,  and  that  they  are  deputed  to  solicit 
charity  for  the  wretched  survivors. 

I  was  once  waited  on  by  a  Russian  (so  he  professed 
himself)  whose  papers  were  duly  endorsed  by  the  Mayor 
of  New  York — setting  forth  that  a  vessel,  containing  a 
number  of  his  relatives  and  friends,  had  been  captured  in 
the  Mediterranean  and  carried  into  Algiers,  where  they 
were  sold  as  slaves,  and  urging  every  kind-hearted 
American  to  contribute  his  mite  towards  their  redemp¬ 
tion.  He  got  a  dollar  from  each  of  us — about  a  dozen 
at  dinner  at  the  time,  and  just  after  the  first  six  bottles 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


611 


of  champagne  had  evanished.  When  a  cup  of  coffee 
had  somewhat  regulated  our  charitable  outgoings,  we 
were  not  a  little  chagrined  and  vexed  at  the  trick;  but 
we  took  no  particular  pains  to  interrupt  his  gainful 
operations,  and  we  had  the  satisfaction  to  find  that  all 
our  neighbours,  drunk  or  sober,  had  been  equally  stupid 
and  generous. 

Within  the  last  three  years,  I  have  had  two  hundred 
and  fifty-nine  similar  calls  from  shipwrecked  Germans, 
Spaniards  and  Portuguese;  from  exiled  patriots  of  every 
country,  and  from  other  unfortunates  of  all  sorts,  who 
protested  by  signs  or  by  some  kind  of  Lingua  Franca 
that  they  could  not  speak  English,  and  who  had  English 
papers  and  credentials  to  speak  and  lie  for  them. 

About  two  weeks  ago,  a  stout,  hale,  thickset,  whiskered, 
brazen-faced,  red-nosed  scape-gallows  came  to  my  house, 
bolted  in,  made  his  bow  and  tried  to  be  graceful  and  to 
sport  the  gentleman — handed  me  his  book — like  a  lady’s 
album  in  externals — which  at  first  I  refused  to  look  at, 
as  I  knew  his  object  instinctively  and  by  the  aid  of 
phrenology — thanks  to  my  sagacity  and  to  this  super¬ 
latively  invaluable  and  never-to-be-sufficiently  lauded 
queen  of  sciences.  When  I  bid  him  “  begone”  in  blunt 
English,  and  with  a  scowl  and  a  stamp  of  the  foot  which 
would  have  annihilated  anything  human,  he  smiled  like 
a  cockney  and  affected  not  to  understand  me.  He  then 
mumbled  a  little  French,  and  intimated  that  he  could 
parler  Francois  un  peu ,  mats  not  un  vor  ov  tam  Anglois. 
As  I  could  not  get  rid  of  the  Hercules  by  words,  looks, 
or  gestures,  and  feeling  no  special  penchant  to  attempt  it 


G12 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


vi  et  armis ,  I  cast  my  eye  at  length  and  in  despair  over 
the  pages  of  his  manuscript  book.  He  was  described  as 
an  Italian  patriot  soldier,  who  had  suffered  all  hut  mar¬ 
tyrdom  in  the  holy  cause  of  liberty — had  lost  his  last 
sous — and  had  finally  been  whisked  across  the  ocean  or 
through  the  air,  (Dr.  Faust  or  Mother  Carey  can  tell 
how,)  and  set  down,  safe  and  sound,  in  the  good  City  of 
Savannah;  wdiere  his  misfortunes  and  hair-breadth  es¬ 
capes  by  flood  and  field  had  excited  the  deepest  sym¬ 
pathy.  And  so  the  names  of  lady  and  gentleman  donors 
continued  to  fill  his  pages  and  his  pockets  all  the  way 
from  Augusta,  (whither  he  had  a  free  passage  and  the 
best  birth  in  a  steamer,)  through  Georgia,  the  Creek 
Nation ,  and  Tennessee,  even  unto  Metropolitan  Nash¬ 
ville.  As  I  had  not  dined,  I  succeeded  for  once  in 
keeping  my  cash. 

Since  the  above,  two  wounded,  maimed,  crippled,  wo- 
begone,  limping,  groaning,  pitiful,  drunken  old  soldiers, 
who  fought,  as  their  story  told,  at  New  Orleans,  on  one 
side  or  t’other,  and  were  all  but  killed  in  battle,  and  had 
been  dying  ever  since,  and  who  certainly  would  die 
before  next  morning  unless  my  right  worshipful  honour 
would  be  pleased  to  bestow  the  needful  to  wet  their 
whistles  and  mend  their  coats.  Alas!  what  is  to  be 
done?  What  was  our  grand  penitentiary  built  for? 
What  are  our  lawyers  and  courts  and  legislature  about? 


THE  SEASON.* 

[DECEMBER  16,  1831.] 


The  present  will,  probably,  long  be  remembered  as  the 
cold  winter,  or,  at  any  rate,  as  the  cold  December.  Our 
oldest  people  tell  us  that  the  Cumberland  Diver  has 
never  been  completely  frozen  at  this  place  but  twice  be¬ 
fore: — viz.,  in  1786  and  1796.  It  is  not  to  be  inferred 
however  from  this  fact,  that  the  weather  has  not  been 
sufficiently  cold  during  any  other  winter  to  freeze  ordi¬ 
nary  rivers.  The  truth  is,  it  requires  more  intensely 
severe  and  longer  continued  frost  to  congeal  the  waters 
of  the  Cumberland  than  to  produce  the  same  effect  upon 
the  Hudson  or  the  Delaware.  This  is  owing  to  the  very 
high  and  almost  perpendicular  banks,  and  to  the  rapid 
current  of  our  noble  river.  And  to  these  two  permanent 
causes,  may  be  added  the  generally  high  state  of  the 
water  at  this  season.  At  present,  the  river  is  not  swollen 
beyond  its  ordinary  summer  level:  and  it  is  now  com¬ 
pletely  bridged  over  with  solid  ice,  so  that  the  heaviest 
loaded  wagons  cross  it  in  safety. 

Since  about  the  first  instant,  the  mercury  in  Faren- 
heit’s  thermometer  has  ranged,  at  sunrise,  between 
several  degrees  below  zero  and  ten  above,  and  with 

*  Printed  in  the  National  Banner,  over  the  signature  of  Gr.  F.  G-. 

(613) 


614 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


very  little  increase  of  temperature  during  the  day.  On 
the  morning  of  the  6th  instant,  it  began  to  snow;  and 
since  the  morning  of  the  Ttli,  the  snow  has  remained 
about  ten  inches  deep  without  any  apparent  diminution. 
Even  the  roofs  of  the  houses,  with  a  southern  exposure, 
continue  covered  as  at  first.  Scarcely  wind  enough  to 
rustle  a  leaf  has  been  perceptible  during  all  this  period. 
This  circumstance  and  a  clear  sky  will  account  for  the 
very  bearable  and  rather  bracing  character  of  a  Green¬ 
land  atmosphere. 

Many  temporary  sleighs  have  been  suddenly  got  up, 
and  our  worthy  citizens  have  tried  to  amuse  themselves 
in  Yankee  style.  But  their  rude  vehicles  are  such 
pitiful  caricatures  of  the  comfortable  and  elegant  estab¬ 
lishments  of  the  Northerners,  that  they  can  attain  at 
best  but  a  sorry  notion,  from  this  experiment,  of  the 
delightful  mode  of  land-sailing,  which  renders  a  North¬ 
ern  winter  the  most  joyous  and  social  portion  of  the 
whole  year. 

This  morning  (Friday,  Dec.  16,)  the  mercury  stood  at 
fourteen  degeees  below  zero,  on  College  Hill  at  sunrise,  in 
the  open  air!  What  will  the  Bostonians  say  to  this? 
Oh,  for  M.  Chaubert’s  red  hot  oven!  Sherry  wine  in 
decanters,  in  a  closed  sideboard,  was  nearly  a  solid  mass 
of  ice,  in  a  well  built  brick  house.  How  alcohol  fared,  I 
had  no  opportunity  of  ascertaining.  Though  accus¬ 
tomed  to  a  Northern  climate,  having  lived  some  thirty 
years  within  fifty  miles  of  New  York,  I  have  never 
experienced  such  cold  as  this; — nor  have  I  ever  known 
a  cold  spell  to  last  so  long  without  some  abatement. 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


G15 


I  find,  on  referring  to  my  memoranda,  that  on  the 
25th  of  January,  1821,  in  the  City  of  New  York, 
at  three  o’clock  A.M.,  the  thermometer  was  fourteen 
degrees  below  zero;  and  this  was  pronounced,  in  the 
city  papers  of  the  day,  the  severest  weather  experienced 
there  for  upwards  of  thirty  years.  At  my  own  resi¬ 
dence  in  the  country,  the  thermometer  was  at  the 
same  time  five  degrees  below  zero,  which  is  the  lowest 
ever  witnessed  by  myself  until  this  morning.  While 
writing  this,  I  am  seated  close  to  a  huge  fire,  with 
gloves,  moccasins,  and  great  coat  on,  and  I  can  with 
difficulty  keep  my  ink  in  a  liquid  state  long  enough  to 
record  the  passing  features  of  the  moment. 

I  have  now  before  me  the  last  number  of  Brewster’s 
Edinburgh  Journal  of  Science,  which  contains  an  ab¬ 
stract  of  the  meteorological  observations  made  to  the 
regents  of  the  University  of  New  York  from  34  acade¬ 
mies  in  different  parts  of  the  State  for  the  year  1830; 
from  which  it  appears  that  at  Albany,  the  lowest  point 
to  which  the  mercury  fell  during  the  last  year,  was  12 
degrees  below  zero;  and  at  Erasmus  Hall,  near  the  City 
of  New  York,  to  only  4  above  zero.  The  whole  ab¬ 
stract  would  be  worth  republishing  here,  if  I  had  leisure 
and  warm  fingers  to  copy  it,  or  if  space  could  be  spared 
for  it  in  the  columns  of  a  newspaper,  at  such  a  busy, 
political,  fighting,  bank-making  and  un-making  crisis  as 
the  present. 


PUNCH  AND  A  BISHOP.* 


I  ha  ye  sometimes  marvelled  at  the  objections  made  by 
two  classes  of  men  against  Temperance  Societies.  It  is 
well  known  that  it  is  required  of  every  person,  who 
becomes  a  member  of  a  temperance  society,  to  subscribe 
a  constitution  or  rule  which  inhibits  the  use  of  distilled 
liquors  altogether,  except  as  a  medicine.  This  subscrip¬ 
tion  is,  in  all  cases,  perfectly  voluntary,  and  is  binding 
no  longer  than  is  agreeable  to  the  subscribing  party.  He 
may  erase  his  name  whenever  he  pleases.  Of  course, 
nothing  onerous,  or  calculated  in  any  degree  to  lead  him 
into  temptation,  is  imposed  or  intended.  A  more  per¬ 
fectly  free  and  discretionary  obligation  cannot  be  con¬ 
trived  or  conceived.  A  man  may  become  a  member  of 
a  temperance  society  to-day  from  conscientious  convic¬ 
tion — and  if  he  see  reason,  either  from  his  own  frailty 
or  otherwise,  to  withdraw  to-morrow  or  next  week,  he  is 
at  liberty  to  do  so.  Temperance  associations  exercise  no 
coercive  authority  whatever — they  inflict  no  penalty— 
administer  no  censure — and  denounce  no  party  and  no 
individuals.  They  invite  all  men  to  abstain  from  ardent 
spirits,  and  to  avow  publicly  their  determination  to  do 
so.  But  they  neither  abuse  nor  blame  any  mortal  for 
standing  aloof. 

*  Printed  in  the  Nashville  Herald,  December  22,  1831,  over  the 
signature  of  F.  G.  F. 

(616) 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


617 


But,  I  confess,  it  does  seem  strange  that  political  men 
should  object  to  the  voluntary  obligation  thus  assumed, 
on  the  ground  that  it  is  unlawful  or  dangerous  to  prom¬ 
ise  not  to  drink  whisky,  when  they  do  not  hesitate  to 
take  an  oath  to  perform  all  the  duties  of  any  office  to 
which  they  may  be  appointed,  according  to  the  Constitu¬ 
tion  and  the  laws  of  their  country. 

And  still  more  strange  that  religious  men  should 
object  on  similar  grounds,  when  they  have  all  most 
solemnly  vowed  before  God  and  their  church  to  believe 
certain  articles  of  faith,  and  strictly  to  observe  certain 
rules  of  conduct,  and  to  abstain  from  sundry  specified 
immoral  practices.  A  man  who  can,  with  a  good  con¬ 
science,  promise  never  to  lie,  steal,  murder,  or  profane 
the  name  of  his  Maker,  ought  not  to  demur  at  promising 
nob  to  drink  ardent  spirits,  if  the  practice  be  injurious  to 
himself  or  others.  Besides,  it  is  well  known  that  the 
primitive  Christians,  as  Pliny  testifies,  bound  themselves 
by  oath  not  to  commit  any  criminal  or  immoral  act 
whatever. 

But  as  great  names  have  a  sort  of  magical  influence 
with  our  plain,  independent,  reflecting  republicans,  we 
will  cite  one  or  two,  out  of  a  thousand  which  might  be 
adduced,  in  behalf  of  the  temperance  cause.  The  Lord 
Bishop  of  London  is  Patron  of  the  British  and  Foreign 
Temperance  Society;  and  the  Lord  Mayor  is  one  of  its 
Vice-Presidents. 

“An  anecdote  of  the  Lord  Bishop  of  London  is  worth 
relating.  He  did  not  fall  in  with  the  temperance  meas¬ 
ures  till  after  mature  deliberation.  After  having  con- 


618  MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 

eluded  so  to  do,  and  pledged  himself  to  that  effect,  he 
gave  a  dinner  to  a  numerous  company  of  guests.  At 
dinners  of  this  description,  it  had  been  customary  to 
have  punch  at  the  close.  After  the  dinner  under  con¬ 
sideration  had  been  finished,  and  a  short  pause  had 
occurred,  one  of  the  guests  finding  no  punch  to  come 
on,  asked  if  it  were  not  about  time  for  the  punch;  upon 
which  the  bishop  arose,  and  thus  addressed  the  com¬ 
pany:  6  Gentlemen,  I  am  a  member  of  a  temperance 
society;  I  have  become  so  after  full  consideration 
of  the  subject;  and  I  cannot  conscientiously  sanction 
this  practice  any  longer.’  The  effect  of  this  unexpected 
address  from  such  a  source,  as  might  have  been  supposed, 
was  astounding;  and  it  cannot  fail  to  give  an  impulse  to 
the  glorious  cause  of  temperance  throughout  the  civilized 
world.” 


CHRISTMAS.* 

[DECEMBER  25,  1831.] 


This  is  the  festival  of  the  Christian  Church,  observed 
annually  on  the  25th  day  of  December,  in  memory  of 
the  birth  of  Christ.  Originally,  it  was  strictly  regarded 
by  Christians  as  a  holy  day — and  not  as  a  mere  holiday, 
as  it  is  now  but  too  generally  esteemed  by  the  mass  of 
our  people.  Why,  or  by  what  imperceptible  gradations, 
it  has  thus  degenerated  into  a  season  of  levity  and  mirth 
and  frolic,  I  shall  not  attempt  to  explain.  It  is  grateful 
to  the  pious  heart  to  know  that  the  day  is  not  thus  uni¬ 
versally  desecrated;  and  that,  among  many  denomina¬ 
tions  of  Christians,  the  sublime  object  of  its  primitive 
institution  is  still  kept  in  view.  The  nativity  and 
advent  of  the  glorious  Son  of  God  is  surely  the  most 
stupendous  miracle  of  divine  goodness  and  mercy  which 
has  ever  yet  been  witnessed  by  the  intelligent  creation 
of  the  Almighty.  To  commemorate  such  an  event  is  a 
privilege  not  to  be  too  highly  appreciated — and  therefore 
not  to  be  slighted  without  more  than  ordinary  crimi¬ 
nality.  If  ever  there  be  occasion  for  pious  gratitude, 
for  holy  aspirations,  and  for  fervent  hallelujas  of  praise, 
it  is  on  the  annual  return  of  that  ever-memorable  day 

*  Printed  in  the  National  Banner,  December  2T,  1831,  over  the 
signature  of  G.  F.  G. 


(G19) 


020 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


which  beheld  the  brightness  of  the  Father’s  glory  veiled 
in  humanity,  and  appearing  as  a  messenger  of  peace  and 
love,  of  pardon  and  reconciliation,  among  the  wretched 
and  guilty  children  of  men.  The  tear  of  joy  indeed 
may  bedew  the  cheek  of  the  admiring  but  self- con¬ 
demned  worshipper  at  Immanuel’s  feet — and  loud  an¬ 
thems  of  devout  thanksgiving  may  ascend  to  heaven 
from  the  lips  of  the  assembled  congregation : — but  what 
heart  can  be  indifferent  or  unmoved,  or  disposed  to  idle 
sportiveness  or  sinful  pleasure  at  such  a  season? 

Oft  have  I  entered  the  consecrated  temple  of  the  Most 
High  on  this  hallowed  anniversary,  and  participated  in 
silence  but  with  unspeakable  emotions,  in  all  the  solemn 
acts  of  praise  and  adoration,  with  which  some  Christians 
are  wont  to  celebrate  a  Saviour’s  marvellous  incarnation 
and  infinite  condescension.  Whether  it  be  religion,  or 
superstition,  or  sentiment,  or  early  association,  or  consti¬ 
tutional  infirmity — I  stop  not  to  inquire.  It  is  to  me 
an  occasion  of  delightful  and  vivid,  though  mournful 
excitement.  Is  there  joy  in  grief — light  in  darkness — 
comfort  in  sorrow— peace  in  conflict — -hope  in  despond¬ 
ency? — Here  it  is  that  I  seem  to  realize  more  than 
the  poet’s  dream,  and  to  rise  above  the  perils  and 
miseries  which  flesh  is  heir  to. 

On  Sunday  morning  last  (Christmas)  I  instinctively 
directed  my  steps  (as  in  happier  days)  to  the  Episcopal 
Church,  and  seated  myself  in  a-  retired  corner  of  the 
gallery,  where  I  could  conveniently  see  and  hear  what¬ 
ever  was  likely  to  command  or  deserve  attention.  The 
church  itself,  with  all  its  interior  arrangements,  is  a 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


621 


beautiful  object,  and  is,  at  any  time,  worthy  of  notice. 
Then ,  it  was  tastefully  ornamented  with  evergreens  in 
the  manner  which  venerable  usage  has,  from  the  earliest 
ages  of  the  church,  rendered  familiar  and  grateful  to  the 
eye.  After  a  momentary  glance  at  the  scenery ,  and 
perceiving  that  the  decorations  had  been  got  up  after 
the  good  old  orthodox  fashion,  I  felt  prepared  to  yield 
myself  without  reserve  to  the  soothing  and  exalting 
influences  which  the  varied  services  of  the  church, 
when  well  performed,  are  so  admirably  calculated  to 
exert.  Nor  were  my  almost  romantic  anticipations 
marred  or  disappointed.  The  song  of  praise,  accom¬ 
panied  by  the  deep-toned  organ — the  sacred  lessons  of 
the  day  judiciously  read — the  voice  of  prayer,  distinct, 
solemn,  impressive,  devout  —  (and  such  prayers  and 
confessions — the  very  language  of  penitence  and  sup¬ 
plication!) — and  then  the  appropriate  sermon  by  the 
able,  pious  and  eloquent  rector— all  conspired  to  make 
me  fed  that  an  hour  thus  spent  in  the  courts  of  the 
Lord  is  better  than  a  thousand  days  or  years  vainly 
wasted  in  the  tents  or  habitations  of  wickedness  and 
folly.  Ohy  si  sic  omnes! 

P.S. — I  must  here  take  leave — and  I  hope  to  give  no 
offence — to  animadvert  upon  a  practice  which  is  ex¬ 
ceedingly  annoying  and  unbecoming,  to  say  the  least 
of  it.  Persons  of  different  ages  and  sizes — principally 
boys  and  young  men — were  constantly  coming  in  and 
going  out  of  the  galleries,  during  the  whole  period  of 
divine  service.  This  practice  prevails,  I  believe,  to  a 
shameful  extent  in  all  our  churches.  Parents  ought  to 


622  MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


teach  their  rude  boys  better  manners:  and  young  gen¬ 
tlemen  may  be  reminded  that  common  politeness  re¬ 
quires  them  to  behave  with  respectful  decorum  in  every 
place  of  worship,  and  never  to  disturb  an  audience  by 
an  unnecessary  word  or  movement.  They  ought  to 
enter  the  church  before  the  service  commences,  and 
never  to  leave  it  until  after  the  benediction  is  pro¬ 
nounced. 

Again,  some  gentlemen  keep  their  hats  on  until  they 
reach  their  pews — -and  put  them  on  again  as  soon  as 
they  begin  to  retire.  Would  any  gentleman  wear  his 
hat  into  the  midst  of  a  lady’s  drawing-room?  This  sort 
of  hattisliness  seems  peculiar  to  certain  sections  of  our 
country.  The  first  time  I  ever  saw  a  man  march  up 
the  aisle  of  a  church  with  his  hat  on,  (it  was  in  Western 
Virginia,  and  the  individual  referred  to  was  an  elder 
and  the  chorister,)  1  was  as  much  surprised  as  if  he 
had  made  his  entree  on  horseback.  Since  that  period,  I 
have  often  seen  the  preacher  fairly  mount  the  pulpit 
before  he  doffed  his  beaver. 


THE  AMERICAN  IS  A  SPITTING  ANIMAL.* 


At  a  late  meeting  of  the  Synod  of  West  Tennessee, 
‘the  subject  of  chewing,  smoking,  and  snuffing  tobacco 
was  gravely  discussed:  and  the  use  of  this  noxious 
weed,  in  each  of  the  above  modes,  was  finally  con¬ 
demned,  I  believe,  without  a  dissenting  voice.  Many 
curious  facts  and  anecdotes  were  well  told  on  the  occa¬ 
sion;  and  the  deleterious  influence  of  tobacco  on  the 
human  system  was  ably  demonstrated  and  aptly  illus¬ 
trated  by  both  clergymen  and  physicians.  I  shall  not 
attempt  to  detail  the  particulars,  nor  to  report  any  of 
the  speeches.  I  refer  the  ignorant  and  the  skeptical, 
however,  for  information,  to  the  luminous  pages  of  our 
own  Dr.  Rush  and  of  the  English  Dr.  Clarke,  the 
divine. 

The  habit  of  spitting  acquired  and  rendered  unavoid¬ 
able  by  the  practice  of  chewing  tobacco,  is  so  offensive 
to  all  well-bred  people  as  to  excite  some  surprise  that 
gentlemen  should  continue  it.  To  what  extent  the 
hospitable  citizens  of  New  York  and  Philadelphia  are 
annoyed  in  this  respect  by  their  Western  friends,  when¬ 
ever  the  latter  travel  Eastward,  can  scarcely  be  con¬ 
ceived  by  any  who  have  not  resided  in  one  or  the  other 

*  Printed  in  the  Nashville  Herald ,  December  29,  1831,  over  the 
signature  of  F.  Gr.  F. 


VOL.  in. — 44 


(623) 


624 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


of  those  cities.  How  completely  horrifying  to  a  fashion¬ 
able  lady  to  see,  in  her  elegant  and  superbly  furnished 
drawing-room,  the  invited  guest  of  her  honoured  spouse, 
from  the  far  West,  bespattering  her  brilliant  mahogany, 
and  marble  and  Brussels,  with  tobacco  juice,  as  uncere¬ 
moniously  as  he  would  inundate  the  plank  floor  of  a  log 
cabin !  Western  parsons  are  especially  noted  for  their 
gifts  in  this  species  of  holding  forth;  and  they  never 
fail,  during  their  annual  visits  to  Philadelphia,  to  leave 
an  odour  of  their  outpourings  so  remarkably  impressive 
and  affecting  as  seldom  to  be  effaced  or  forgotten. 
Whether  their  pulpit  displays  are  equally  j)otential  or 
memorable,  my  reminiscences  do  not  enable  me  to 
decide. 

The  late  eloquent  Mr.  Pinckney  of  Maryland,  while 
minister  at  the  Court  of  St.  James,  very  soon  discovered 
that  his  tobacco  chewing  was  a  most  disgusting  annoy¬ 
ance  to  every  company  which  he  frequented:  and  he 
had  the  good  sense  and  the  resolution  to  discontinue  the 
filthy  usage  altogether.  He  became,  in  consequence,  a 
much  healthier  and  better-looking  man,  as  well  as  a 
vastly  more  accomplished  and  acceptable  representative 
of  the  New  World  in  the  eyes  of  the  loyal  and  fas¬ 
tidious  Londoners. 

The  other  day  at  church,  a  well-dressed  young  fellow, 
while  standing  up  in  prayer  time  and  leaning  over  into 
my  pew,  so  wantonly  besprinkled  every  part  of  my 
premises  with  his  tobacco  distillations,  as  fairly  to  put 
all  devotion  out  of  countenance,  and  make  me  wish  for 
the  Amen ,  as  impatiently  as  ever  did  hungry  urchin 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


625 


during  his  puritan  papa’s  long  grace  over  a  thanks¬ 
giving-day’s  dinner. 

At  the  aforesaid  meeting  of  synod,  a  reverend  doctor 
from  Alabama  stated  that,  during  a  voyage,  a  few  years 
since,  from  Liverpool  to  New  York,  it  became  a  topic  of 
conversation  and  inquiry  among  the  passengers,  English 
and  American  —  what  was  the  peculiar  distinguishing 
trait  or  characteristic  of  the  American? — It  being  ac¬ 
knowledged  that  they  were  very  much  alike  in  general. 
At  length,  a  shrewd  Englishman  remarked  that,  in  his 
judgment,  (and  he  had  many  opportunities  for  observa¬ 
tion  and  comparison,)  the  66 American  might  par  excellence 
be  denominated  a  spitting  animal.” 


THE  WEATHER  AND  SUNDRIES.* 

[JANUARY  30,  1832.] 


The  present  winter  will  long  be  remembered  on  ac¬ 
count  of  the  intense,  and  hitherto  unparalleled  severity 
of  the  weather.  When  we  recorded,  in  a  neighbouring 
journal,  the  features  of  the  cold  December,  wre  little 
anticipated  another  Greenland  visitation  in  so  short  a 
space.  But  all  the  concentrated  frosts  of  the  Icy  Poles 
have  been  let  loose  upon  us,  and  have  played  such 
fantastic  tricks  with  our  Italian  atmosphere  that  a 
Russian  or  Norwegian  might  here  have  fancied  himself 
some  twenty  degrees  north  of  his  accustomed  latitude. 
We  have,  indeed,  had  winter  and  summer  in  delightful 
contact.  One  day  oppressively  hot — the  next  as  cold  as 
if  the  sun  had  been  instantaneously  annihilated.  What 
philosophy  can  explain  such  enigmatical  phenomena,  or 
build  up  a  meteorological  theory  worthy  of  this  most 
enlightened  and  system-making  generation?  Do  heat 
and  cold  travel  by  steam  or  by  railroads,  or  by  any 
other  modern  improvements  in  esse  or  in  posse ?  What 
is  the  reforming  world  coming  to?  A  few  more  mortal 
inventions  will  convert  our  lovely  planet  into  a  blazing 
comet,  or  into  a  globe  of  ice — and  we  shall  be  all  burnt 
up  or  frozen  into  statues — to  be  criticised  and  questioned 

*  Printed  in  the  Nashville  Herald ,  January  31,  1832,  over  the 
signature  of  An  Old  Field  Pedagogue. 

(626) 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


627 


secundum  artem  by  the  Cuviers  and  Bucklands  and 
Lyells  of  a  future  creation. 

What  think  you ,  courteous  Bostonian,  of  twenty 
degrees  below  zero,  here  in  Nashville,  forty  miles  nearer 
the  equator  than  sultry  Algiers?  Nashville  is  in  lati¬ 
tude  36°  10'  North,  and  Algiers  36°  49'.  The  weather 
of  January  up  to  the  24th,  was  mild  enough:  and  a  few 
days  rather  too  warm.  On  the  18th,  for  example,  the 
mercury  in  Fahrenheit  rose  to  72  degrees,  and  we  began 
to  think  of  gardening.  On  the  24th,  however,  in  the 
afternoon,  it  began  to  snow  and  to  blow  furiously.  The 
night  was  pinching.  At  daylight  of  the  25th,  the  ther¬ 
mometer  stood  at  four  degrees  below  zero — at  9  o’clock 
at  five  below — and  during  the  day  the  maximum  of  its 
rise  was  only  to  one  above  zero.  This  was  the  coldest 
average  day  we  ever  experienced  anywhere.  We  were 
nearly  frozen  in  riding  a  quarter  of  a  mile  on  horseback 
—  though  well-equipped  with  all  manner  of  orthodox 
defensibles.  And  our  juvenile  greeklings  looked  like 
the  very  personification  of  vox  faucibus  Jicesit:  and  we 
could  not  find  in  our  hearts  to  scold  them  for  not 
threading  the  mazes  of  Euclid  or  Euripides.  Even 
Busby  or  Parr  would  have  become  gentle  and  torpid 
under  such  an  influence.  By-the-way,  Old  Nick  was  a 
fool,  or  he  would  have  made  Job  a  schoolmaster — and 
then,  if  he  had  not  triumphed,  we  are  no  conjurers. 

The  morning  of  the  26th  arrived — and  lo,  the  ther¬ 
mometer  stood  at  18  degrees  below  zero  at  sunrise! 
And  that  our  accuracy  may  not  be  questioned,  we  have 
received  accounts  from  sundry  persons  residing  within  a 


628  MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


range  of  thirty  miles  around  us,  stating  the  thermome¬ 
ter  to  have  been  16,  17,  18,  19,  and  even  20  degrees 
below  zero.  We  pledge  our  veracity  to  the  whole  world 
and  to  all  posterity  that  the  facts  are  precisely  as  we 
announce  them.  On  the  27th  the  mercury  was,  at  day¬ 
light,  twelve  degrees  below  zero,  as  observed  by  us,  and 
ten  below  as  reported  by  others.  On  the  morning  of 
the  28tli  it  was  two  above  zero.  About  noon  it  began 
to  snow  again.  And  it  is  snowing  still,  in  real  Vermont 
style,  while  we  are  writing — lhat  is  to  say,  at  half-past 
eight  o’clock  in  the  evening  of  this  same  28th  of  Jan¬ 
uary,  1832.  How  deep  the  snow  will  be  to-morrow  we 
cannot  certainly  tell,  but  we  venture  a  rough  guess  that 
it  will  be  about  three  feet  seven  inches  or  thereby ,  as  the 
Scotch  phrase  it. 

During  the  previous  month  of  December,  it  will  be 
remembered  that  the  mercury  was,  several  times,  two  or 
three  degrees  below  zero,  and  that  on  the  morning  of  the 
16th  it  was  14  below.  We  had  then  about  25  days  of 
uninterrupted  Iceland  weather- — with  snow  ten  inches 
deep  and  good  sleighing  for  two  wreeks.  Twenty  degrees 
below  zero  would  be  considered  an  extraordinary  affair, 
and  would  cause  a  wonderful  sensation  even  at  St. 
Petersburg. 

It  is  remarkable  that  the  winters  of  1740,  1780,  and 
1820  were  the  coldest  ever  known  in  our  country. 
During  each,  the  bay  and  other  waters  about  the  City 
of  New  York  were  completely  frozen  over,  and  admitted 
of  all  sorts  of  land  travelling.  Of  the  two  former  we 
have  often  heard  our  fathers  and  grandfathers  speak  as 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


029 


the  licird  winters.  Of  the  last,  (1820—21,)  our  own  recol¬ 
lections  are  sufficiently  vivid.  Perhaps  the  knowing  ones 
may  make  something  out  of  this  cycle  of  40  years — let 
them  try. 

That  our  winters  are  gradually  becoming  milder,  and 
that  our  climate  is  ameliorating,  we  utterly  disbelieve. 
The  clearing  of  our  dense  forests  will  render  the  seasons 
more  inclement  and  uncertain.  Our  own  experience 
satisfies  us  that  the  cold  is  greater  on  this  side  of  the 
mountains  than  in  the  corresponding  parallels  of  latitude 
along  the  Atlantic  coast. 

Tennessee  is  most  unfortunately  situated.  It  is  liable 
to  all  possible  changes  and  extremes, — to  late  frosts  in 
spring  and  to  early  frosts  in  autumn;  to  blasting  heats 
by  day  and  to  chilling  damps  by  night;  to  every  form 
and  type  of  the  torrid  and  frigid  zones  at  all  times  and 
seasons.  Nothing  here  ever  reaches  perfection.  We 
have  no  good  fruits — no  good  melons — no  good  sweet 
potatoes  (nor  Irish  either)  — -  no  good  wheat,  beef, 
mutton,  fish,  fowl  or  venison — no  good  garden  vege¬ 
tables  —  no  good  butter,  cheese  or  pumpkin  pies,  — 
nothing  but  cotton,  tobacco,  corn,  whisky,  negroes  and 
swine,  and  these  not  worth  the  growing.  Everything 
degenerates  in  Tennessee.  Doctors  are  made  by  guess 
(anatomical  dissection  is  a  penitentiary  offence) —law¬ 
yers  by  magic — parsons  by  inspiration — legislators  by 
grog — merchants  by  mammon — farmers  by  necessity — 
editors  and  schoolmasters  by  St.  Nicholas,  to  do  penance 
for  the  sins  of  their  youth — mechanics  are  too  cunning 
to  live  amongst  us.  We  cannot  naturalize  a  shoemaker 


630 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


or  a  tailor.  We  import  our  ploughs  and  saddle-bags. 
We  send  to  England  or  Barbary  for  our  horses— and  to 
Mexico  for  our  asses  (a  work  of  supererogation  in  all 
conscience.) — We  get  our  notions  from  the  Yankees  — 
our  fashions  from  travelling  milliners  and  pedlars — 
our  champagne  from  Newark — our  flints,  clocks  and 
nutmegs  from  Connecticut.  Our  colleges  and  schools  are 
like  fires  kindled  upon  icebergs — their  light  is  scarcely 
visible  before  they  are  extinguished. 

All  the  world  here  is  migratory  and  fitful  and  chaotic, 
like  the  climate.  We  have  players,  buffoons,  jugglers, 
rope-dancers,  harlequins,  giants,  pigmies,  caravans  of 
wild  beasts,  circus-riders,  fiddlers,  tumblers,  fire-eaters, 
steam- doctors,  picture-venders,  tooth-makers,  panaceists 
— all  sorts  of  lions,  stars,  showmen,  lecturers,  teachers 
and  holders-forth — but  they  are  birds  of  passage— they 
pocket  our  cash,  and  then  are  off  by  the  first  steamer. — 
We  are  fleeced  by  all  the  charlatanry  and  necromancy 
and  impudence  and  craft  and  sciolism  and  knavery  and 
cockneyism  which  can  muster  the  locomotive  ability  to 
reach  this  most  gullible,  tropical,  polar,  nondescript,  and 
uniformly  variable  territory  of  ours,  whereof  Nashville 
is,  and  ever  will  be,  the  splendid,  golden,  august,  munifi¬ 
cent,  refined,  literary,  freezing  and  broiling  metropolis. 

An  Old  Field  Pedagogue. 

P.  S. — Monday,  30th.  We  were  a  little  out  in  our 
guess  about  the  snow-storm  on  Saturday  evening.  The 
snow  was  precisely  five  inches  deep  yesterday  morning, 
and  the  thermometer  at  30  degrees  above  zero. 


NASHVILLE,  BY  A  KENTUCKIAN.* 


[NASHVILLE,  JANUARY  12,  1832.] 


I  am,  Mr.  Editor,  a  citizen  of  a  remote  part  of  Ken¬ 
tucky,  and  have  hitherto  enjoyed  but  slender  means  of 
knowing  much  about  Tennessee.  Indeed,  my  chief 
information  has  been  derived  from  the  common  school 
geographies,  and  from  a  few  occasional  notices  in  the 
Kentucky  papers.  Business  having  recently  called  me 
to  the  South,  I  have  spent  about  six  weeks  in  Nashville 
and  its  vicinity.  I  need  not  attempt  to  describe  to  you 
all  the  surprise  which  I  felt  at  the  first  sight  of  your 
beautiful  city,  and  the  many  interesting  objects  which 
meet  the  stranger’s  eye  at  every  turn.  We,  in  Ken¬ 
tucky,  have  been  so  long  in  the  habit  of  regarding  Ten¬ 
nessee  as  a  kind  of  semi-barbarous,  illiterate,  outlandish 
region,  that  I  could  scarcely  credit  the  testimony  of  my 
senses,  when  I  everywhere  beheld  unequivocal  proofs 
and  monuments  of  superior  intelligence  and  cultivated 
taste.  Can  this,  thought  I,  be  the  metropolis  of  an 
ignorant,  wild,  rovxly  race  of  adventurers,  who  have  not 
yet  mastered  the  first  elements  of  civilization? 

But  my  astonishment  was  at  its  height,  when,  after 
a  week’s  observation,  1  discovered  that  you  possess  a 

*  Printed  in  the  Nashville  Republican ,  January  12,  1832.  N.B. 
The  “ laudatory  reviews”  referred  to  were  written  by  myself. 

(631) 


632 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


really  first  rate  university.  I  had  some  difficulty;  I 
acknowledge;  in  making  this  discovery — or  rather  the 
discovery  was  owing  to  mere  accident.  For  no  person 
during  the  progress  of  my  inquiries,  ever  hinted  that 
such  an  institution  existed  among  them.  The  bridge, 
the  theatre,  the  churches,  the  market,  the  penitentiary, 
the  steamboats,  the  courthouse,  the  hotels,  the  academy, 
the  warehouses — were  eagerly  pointed  out,  and  some¬ 
times,  with  no  little  ostentation,  by  the  worthy  citizens 
with  whom  I  happened  to  converse.  But  the  univer¬ 
sity  was  never  mentioned  or  alluded  to.  I  stumbled 
upon  it  in  the  manner  following. 

In  one  of  my  usual  morning  rambles,  without  any 
other  object  in  view  than  to  see  what  was  to  be  seen,  I 
kept  along  Market  Street  until  I  ascended  a  hill  of  con¬ 
siderable  elevation,  half-a-mile  distant  perhaps  from  the 
public  square,  where  my  attention  was  presently  arrested 
by  the  appearance  of  a  number  of  well-dressed  youths 
about  the  doors  of  a  large  brick  edifice,  and  by  sundry 
other  indications  which  bespoke  an  establishment  totally 
different  from  anything  which  I  had  been  prepared  to 
anticipate  in  that  quarter.  Without  ceremony,  I 
marched  into  the  yard  and  mingled  with  the  youths 
aforesaid,  who,  I  soon  learned,  had  just  come  out  of 
their  breakfast-room,  and  were  in  fact  students  of  a 
university!  They  were  perfectly  polite,  and  seemed 
pleased  to  gratify  my  curiosity  in  every  particular.  In 
short,  I  examined  the  whole  premises — was  introduced 
to  the  professors — attended  the  lectures  and  recitations 
—  spent  an  hour  in  the  laboratory — looked  at  the 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  G33 

splendid  apparatus,  cabinets  of  mineralogy  and  natural 
history,  library,  etc.  Returning  to  my  hotel  in  the 
evening,  I  began  to  expatiate  on  the  extraordinary 
advantages  thus  placed  within  reach  of  the  youth  of 
your  city;  when,  to  my  utter  amazement,  no  one  of  the 
large  company  present  seemed  to  comprehend  the  scope 
of  my  remarks.  That  there  was  some  sort  of  a  school 
on  College  Hill,  they  did  appear  to  admit — but  of  its 
nature  and  objects,  of  its  fixtures  and  teachers,  of  its 
endowments  and  pretensions,  they  wrere  as  ignorant  as 
I  had  myself  been  until  within  a  few  hours  before.  I 
have  frequently  since  taken  occasion  to  visit  the  college, 
and  have  become  intimately  acquainted  with  its  arrange¬ 
ments,  discipline,  modes  of  instruction,  and  provisions  of 
every  kind  for  the  improvement  of  its  gentlemanly 
pupils.  On  the  whole,  I  must  in  candour  declare  that 
I  never  was  before  so  thoroughly  satisfied  with  any 
similar  establishment — and  I  have  had  opportunities  of 
making  tolerably  fair  comparisons.  I  have  studied  on 
the  spot  the  character  of  the  most  celebrated  Eastern 
colleges,  and  I  flatter  myself  that  I  am  neither  a  partial 
nor  an  incompetent  judge. 

My  object  however,  in  this  hasty  communication,  is 
not  to  laud  your  college,  but  to  inquire  why  it  is  so  little 
known  here  at  home — in  Nashville — and  in  the  country 
around.  Can  it  be  that  the  people  are  indifferent  to 
education,  or  hostile  to  their  own  universitv?  Have  its 
patrons  and  friends  ever  taken  the  trouble  to  proclaim 
its  merits  to  the  people,  and  to  excite  their  sympathies 
in  its  behalf?  Do  its  officers  never  appear  before  the 


034 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


public  as  speakers?  Do  they  deliver  no  Inaugural  or 
Baccalaureate  addresses — no  introductory  lectures — no 
colonization,  temperance  or  Bible  society  speeches?  If 
they  do,  are  their  pieces  published  and  dispersed  far  and 
wide  among  the  people?  Now,  in  Kentucky,  every 
public  address  of  a  college  instructor  appears  forthwith 
in  print  as  matter  of  course,  and  may  be  found  in  every 
cottage  in  the  commonwealth.  To  give  one  example. 
The  Inaugural  Address  of  the  late  President  of  Tran¬ 
sylvania  University  was  published  not  only  in  pamphlet 
form,  but  in  every  journal  and  newspaper,  whether 
political,  religious,  literary  or  scientific,  in  Lexington, 
and  I  believe  throughout  the  State.  It  was  thence 
copied  into  many  papers  in  the  adjacent  States:  and  I 
recollect  to  have  been  informed  at  the  time  that  it  was 
published  entire  in  at  least  one  of  the  Nashville  gazettes. 
The  same  course  is  pursued  in  regard  to  the  introductory 
lectures  of  our  medical  professors — and  thus  everybody 
becomes  acquainted  with  their  talents,  principles  and 
literary  qualifications.  I  have  seen,  within  a  few  days 
past,  the  most  laudatory  reviews  of  a  Lexington  “  intro¬ 
ductory,”  in  your  City  papers,— while  not  one  of  them 
contained  a  syllable  about  your  own  excellent  univer¬ 
sity. 

Your  professors  must  either  be  culpably  silent,  or  their 
productions  must  be  deemed  by  your  critical  sages  utterly 
worthless,  or  they  must  be  singularly  modest,  or  some¬ 
body  must  be  at  fault  that  nothing  from  their  pens 
should  ever  reach  the  public  eye.  I  tell  you,  Mr. 
Editor,  that  if  the  Tennesseeans  are  like  the  Ken- 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


635 


tuckians,  their  college  will  never  assume  its  proper  rank, 
until  the  newspaper  press  shall  be  fully  enlisted  in  the 
cause,  and  its  officers  be  made  through  it  to  speak  to  all 
the  people.  Had  I  depended  on  your  citizens  for  my 
knowledge  of  the  Nashville  University,  I  should  have 
gone  home  without  even  dreaming  that  it  could  possibly 
be  equal  to  an  ordinary  Kentucky  grammar  school — 
perhaps  even  without  having  heard  of  its  existence!  I 
now  leave  you,  resolved  to  send  my  own  sons  to  be  edu¬ 
cated  here,  in  preference  to  any  other  college  in  the 
Union. 


A  Kentuckian. 


A  HINT  TO  THE  EASTERNS.* 

[JANUARY  17,  1832.] 


In  the  November  number  of  the  u  Monthly  American 
Journal  of  Geology  and  Natural  Science/’  there  occurs, 
at  the  conclusion  of  an  elaborate  article,  the  following 
remarkable  passage, — “And  whilst  geology  and  other 
branches  of  natural  history  are  cherished  and  taught 
in  every  public  institution,  devoted  to  education,  in 
Europe;  there  is  not,  as  far  as  we  are  informed — with 
one  exception — an  officiating  professor  of  these  attrac¬ 
tive  and  useful  branches  of  knowledge,  in  any  of  the 
universities  or  colleges  of  this  country.” 

With  about  equal  propriety  might  one  of  our  sapient 
backwoodsmen,  who  had  never  learned  better,  affirm 
that,  as  far  as  he  had  been  informed ,  there  is  not,  in  the 
whole  world,  a  city  equal  in  size  and  magnificence  to 
Nashville !  What  right  has  any  man  to  assert  in  print, 
what  is  or  what  is  not,  in  relation  to  any  province  or 
subject,  about  which  he  is  not  well  informed?  Because 
the  Journal  does  not  happen  to  know  of  more  than  one 
college  where  geology  is  taught,  it  proclaims,  that  this 
and  the  kindred  sciences  are  neglected  in  all  the  other 
literary  institutions  of  our  republic.  Is  such  logic  incul¬ 
cated  in  the  Novum  Organum  of  Bacon,  or  in  the  pon¬ 
derous  folios  of  the  Stagyrite?  I  acquit  the  writer  of 

*  Printed  in  the  Nashville  Republican ,  January  17,  1832. 

(636) 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


637 


any  design  to  misrepresent  facts : — he  has  doubtless 
sinned  through  sheer  ignorance.  But  then  it  was  his 
duty  to  have  made  himself  acquainted  with  the  actual 
condition  of  the  American  colleges,  before  he  undertook 
to  enlighten  the  world  on  the  subject. 

I  beg  to  apprise  the  writer  and  the  Eastern  skeptics 
generally,  that  “ geology  and  other  branches  of  natural 
history  are  cherished  and  taught,  by  an  officiating  pro¬ 
fessor  of  these  attractive  and  useful  branches  of  knowl¬ 
edge,”  in  the  University  of  Nashville — situate,  lying 
and  being  in  the  State  of  Tennessee,  and  not  far  from 
the  36th  degree  of  northern  latitude.  For  the  precise 
locality,  I  refer  him  to  his  favourite  Tanner.  In  this 
institution,  the  learned  and  accomplished  naturalist, 
Dr.  G.  Troost,  is,  and  has  been  for  several  years  past, 
the  faithful,  laborious  and  devoted  professor  of  geology, 
mineralogy  and  natural  history.  Dr.  Troost  was  a  pupil 
of  the  celebrated  Abbe  Hauy  of  Paris,  and  his  superior 
cannot  be  found  on  this  continent.  His  cabinet  of 
minerals  contains  at  least  ten  thousand  specimens — 
and  is  not,  for  any  useful  purpose,  inferior  to  the  Gibbs 
collection  belonging  to  the  college,  which  we  presume  to 
have  been  excepted  in  the  sweeping  flourish  already  cited. 

It  is  our  misfortune  to  live  west  of  the  mountains, 
where,  it  is  taken  for  granted,  ignorance  and  barbarism 
are  destined  to  hold  universal  and  perpetual  sway. 
Pray,  Mr.  Editor,  do  tell  the  Philadelphians  and  Bos¬ 
tonians  and  Londoners,  that  we  are  not  all  u  gander- 
pullers,”  nor  “gougers,”  nor  u  regulators,”  nor  u  half-horse 
and  half  alligator.”  —  That  some  of  us  geologize,  and 


038 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


botanize,  and  read  Greek,  and  talk  French,  and  write 
poetry,  and  spout  political  economy. — That  we  receive, 
by  every  mail,  loads  of  Scotch,  English,  French  and 
Eastern  periodicals  of  all  sorts  and  upon  all  manner  of 
subjects — scientific,  literary,  political,  religious,  miscel¬ 
laneous. — And  do  tell  Mr.  Walsh  in  particular,  that  I 
have  read  the  whole  twelve  volumes  of  the  “  Diplomatic 
Correspondence  of  the  American  Revolution,”  edited  by 
Mr.  Sparks;  and  that  I  very  heartily  approve  of  his 
late  review  of  the  same — as  also  his  seasonable  article 
on  the  manufacture  of  silk.  This  Quarterly,  by-the- 
way,  is  worthy  of  all  praise. 

I  moreover  entertain  a  favourable  opinion,  on  the 
whole,  of  the  Journal  of  Geology,  and  cheerfully  recom¬ 
mend  it  to  the  patronage  of  our  liberal  and  enlightened 
citizens.  Though  I  most  religiously  believe  we  could 
get  up  a  much  better  one  here  in  Nashville,  without  the 
least  assistance  from  abroad. 

When  I  read,  some  time  ago,  Mr.  Journal’s  translation 
of  Cicero’s  recently  discovered  treatise  De  Republican  I 
confess,  I  formed  no  very  flattering  estimate  of  his 
talents  or  of  his  knowledge  either  of  Latin  or  English. 
But  then  he  was  out  of  his  element.  He  looks  better 
among  the  mastodons  and  buffaloes  and  rattlesnakes 
and  quartze  and  hornblende  and  anthracite  with  which 
he  is  now  principally  conversant.  May  he  live  a  thou¬ 
sand  years  in  peace,  health  and  prosperity — and  have 
a  successful  voyage  to  the  golden  metropolis  of  Captain 
Symmes’  central  geological  elysium ! 


Tuckahoe. 


PRINTERS’  PLUNDERS.* 

[JANUARY  18,  1832.] 


One  of  the  little  miseries  to  which  the  poor  scribblers 
for  public  journals  are  necessarily  subjected,  is  the  mortifi¬ 
cation  of  seeing  their  pieces  inaccurately  printed.  This 
is  oftentimes  owing,  no  doubt,  to  the  illegible  chirography 
of  the  contributors  themselves.  The  compositor  is  com¬ 
pelled  to  guess  at  the  writer  s  meaning;  and  he  is  not  to 
be  blamed  if  he  should  not  always  be  successful  in  his 
guesses.  When  I  am  made,  therefore,  to  use  a  word 
which  I  had  not  written,  I  very  charitably  infer  that 
the  fault  was  in  my  unlucky  manuscript;  and  lament 
that  I  had  not  been  duly  drilled  in  the  Garstarian 
system.  But  when  a  sentence  or  a  line  is  altogether 
omitted  or  misplaced,  or  when  the  punctuation  and 
orthography  are  defective  or  erroneous,  I  charge  the 
fault  to  the  compositor  or  proof-reader,  or  to  somebody 
whose  business  it  was  to  have  prevented  it.  I  do  not 
mean,  on  the  present  occasion,  to  specify  all  my  own 
particular  grievances  on  this  score — though  I  might 
exhibit  a  pretty  formidable  list.  The  Nashville  editors 
have  been  so  uniformly  courteous  and  indulgent,  and 
they  are  so  well  skilled  in  all  the  niceties  of  authorship 


*  Printed  in  the  Nashville  Herald,  January  18,  1832. 
vol.  m. — 45  Y 639) 


G40  MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


and  typography,  that  I  should  he  both  ungrateful  and 
hypercritical,  were  I  to  apply  the  least  censure  to  them 
in  their  official  capacity.  They  cannot  look  after  every¬ 
thing,  nor  be  responsible  for  the  absolute  mechanical 
perfection  of  every  paragraph  which  appears  in  their 
papers. 

Orthography,  however,  is  one  of  the  few  arts  to  which 
my  studious  and  critical  attention  has  been  directed  for 
many  long  years  past;  and  although  my  proficiency  may 
not  have  equalled  my  zeal,  I  have  nevertheless  advanced 
so  far  into  its  mazy  intricacies  as  to  be  extremely  sensi¬ 
tive  to  every  known  violation  of  its  acknowledged 
canons.  Where  words  admit  of  two  modes  of  spelling, 
I  follow  usage  in  preference  to  the  dictionary.  Thus,  I 
write  judgment ,  public ,  etc.  instead  of  judgement,  pub- 
lick,  etc.  Birth  often  occurs  in  books,  and  in  some 
dictionaries,  for  berth ,  a  room  or  sleeping-place  in  a  ship. 

But  where  only  one  mode  obtains,  I  hold  it  to  be  un¬ 
pardonable  to  depart  from  it.  Under  this  last  head,  I 
complain  that  my  orthography  has  been  sadly  misrep¬ 
resented  to  the  public  eye  on  sundry  occasions  and  in 
divers  excellent  periodicals. 

Thus,  in  defiance  of  rule  and  usage  and  Johnson  and 
Walker  and  Webster  and  my  own  most  trustworthy 
manuscript,  I  have  been  made  to  say  in  print,  decypher 
instead  of  decipher — indivisable  instead  of  indivisible — 
etherial  for  ethereal — indispensible  for  indispensable — out- 
poring  for  outpouring — incontestible  for  incontestable — 
maintainance  for  maintenance — untill  for  until — bigotted 
for  bigoted — defered  for  deferred — preventative  for  preven- 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


641 


tive — cotemporary  for  contemporary — L.L.D.  for  LL.D. 
— feign  for  fain — accepted  for  excepted — wrapt  for  rapt — 
statute  for  statue — principle  for  principal — effect  for  effect 
— cannon  for  canon — ingenius  for  ingenuous — diverse  for 
divers — aye  for  ay — practice  for  practise:  and  vice  versa 
in  reference  to  several  of  the  last  mentioned. 

In  one  of  my  recent  felicitous  inspirations,  I  found 
intuitively  substituted  for  instinctively — and  vanished  for 
evanished.  I  was  doubtful  whether  the  first  was  an  edi¬ 
torial  correction,  or  a  compositorial  blunder,  or  whether 
it  was  to  be  debited  to  my  unreadable  hieroglyphics. 
The  last,  I  suspect,  must  have  arisen  from  a  malicious 
combination  among  the  corps  to  exclude  it  altogether 
from  their  columns — because  the  said  evanish  had  been, 
in  like  manner,  cashiered  twice  before.  Now  the  precise 
distinction  between  evanish  and  vanish  cannot  be  told — - 
it  must  be  felt.  It  is  as  great,  however,  as  between 
champagne  and  small  beer. 

A  late  number  of  the  National  Banner  contained  some 
very  judicious  and  orthodox  remarks  on  orthography; 
and  had  the  editor  reached  the  whole  of  my  case,  I 
should  have  withheld  this  imperfect  account  of  my 
typographical  calamities.  I  was  glad  to  see  depository 
and  depositary ,  guarantee  and  guaranty ,  impassable  and 
impassible ,  etc.  among  his  specifications — as  they  are  very 
generally  confounded  and  misused. 

Will  you  have  the  goodness,  Mr.  Editor,  to  give  some 
worthy  gentlemen  a  hint  about  such  current  vulgarisms 
as — I  done  it  for  I  did  it — T  had  went  or  underwent  for  I 
had  gone  or  undergone — I  plead  for  I  pleaded ' — he  arriv 

vol.  m. — 41 


642 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


for  he  arrived — the  company  detained  for  remained — he 
lays  in  bed  for  he  lies  in  bed — he  sets  at  table  for  he  sits — 
and  a  score  or  two  more  —  besides  Americanisms  and 
provincialisms  innumerable  ? 

F.  G.  F. 

P.  S. — I  do  not  adopt  the  peculiar  orthography  or 
orthoepy  of  Dr.  Webster,  except  in  a  few  obvious  cases. 
His  vocabulary  and  definitions  are  invaluable.  He  has, 
however,  sanctioned  the  use  of  some  unnecessary  and 
inelegant  neologisms  —  as  to  progress ,  lengthy ,  etc. 
Modern  English  authority,  it  is  true,  may  be  cited  for 
these  and  similar  innovations.  But  no  additions  or 
changes  ought  to  be  tolerated,  which  do  not  manifestly 
improve  or  enrich  the  language. 


HORRID  ROBBERY  AND  MURDER,* 


[JANUARY,  1832.] 


I  have  read  many  a  tale  of  wo,  and  wept  over  a 
thousand  and  one  horrifying  accounts  of  mortal  man’s 
dreadful  deeds  of  darkness  and  barbarity — but  never — 
no  never— have  I  met  with  anything  parallel  to  the  cir¬ 
cumstantial  and  deliberate  villany  which  has  been 
recently  perpetrated  in  the  midst  of  this  enlightened, 
hospitable,  virtuous  and  benevolent  community.  In¬ 
deed,  I  cannot  find,  within  the  vast  compass  of  my 
truly  opulent  and  exhaustless  vocabulary,  words  of 
adequate  potency  to  portray  the  frightful  features  of 
the  iniquitous,  cruel  and  monstrous  outrage  which  it 
has  become  my  melancholy  duty  to  record.  I  shudder 
and  quake  in  every  limb  and  throughout  my  entire 
corporeal  establishment,  at  the  bare  thought  of  essaying 
the  dismal  development  of  such  unheard  of  wrongs. 
But  murder  will  out — and  if  I  do  not  expose  the  whole 
nefarious  transaction,  it  will  find  a  tongue  and  speak  for 
itself. 

In  order  to  conduct  the  courteous  reader  kindly 
and  gently  to  the  pith  and  marrow — to  the  very  raw- 

*  Printed  in  the  Nashville  Herald ,  January,  1832. 

(643) 


644  MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


head  and  bloody-bones — of  my  most  awful  tragedy — I 
will  calmly  premise  a  few  simple  truisms  by  way  of 
preparation.  I  do  not  wish  to  alarm  or  to  distress  him 
prematurely,  or  to  agitate  bis  nervous  system  too  in¬ 
tensely  at  the  threshold.  He  will  require  all  his  native 
fortitude  and  all  the  accumulated  stores  of  philosophy 
and  experience,  to  enable  him  to  maintain  his  intellec¬ 
tual  balance,  when  fairly  ushered  into  the  full  presence 
of  majestic  truth  and  eloquent  fact. 

Time  then  is  money — it  is  an  estate — it  is  honour — it 
is  science — it  is  history — it  is  poetry — it  is  eloquence — 
it  is  empire — it  is  fame — it  is  life — it  is  immortality. 
Rob  a  man  of  his  time,  and  what  do  you  leave  him? 
Had  Homer  or  Demosthenes  or  Tully  or  Csesar  or  Milton 
or  Washington  been  cheated  out  of  ten,  twenty  or  thirty 
years  of  their  time — what  would  they  have  been?  Or 
where  would  now  be  the  proud  memorials  of  their  exist¬ 
ence?  Time  to  them,  as  it  is  to  all  men,  was  every¬ 
thing.  Happily  for  their  fair  fame,  some  modern  time¬ 
killing  contrivances  were  then  unknown.  Now  here 
is  multum  in  parvo  for  sage  cogitation  and  grave  cal¬ 
culation.  I  suggest  these  brief  hints  in  limine ,  and 
leave  them  to  be  followed  out  in  all  their  bearings  and 
applications,  as  the  exordium  and  the  key  to  the  de¬ 
plorable  case  which  is  the  present  matter  of  lamentation 
and  complaint. 

I  have  been  cozened,  defrauded,  bamboozled  and 
swindled  out  of  more  precious  time,  by  all  sorts  of  honest 
inen  and  rogues,  than  would  have  sufficed  a  master 
genius,  like  myself,  to  compose  the  Iliad  or  Paradise 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


645 


Lost,  or  to  have  liberated  the  Poles  or  conquered  China. 
I  will  specify  but  one  mode,  among  the  many,  by  which 
this  irreparable  mischief  has  been  inflicted.  I  belong  to 
sundry  companies,  clubs,  corporations,  societies,  boards 
and  institutions — the  members  of  which  are  required  to 
meet  for  the  gratuitous  transaction  of  business  at  certain 
places  and  at  stated  hours.  Of  course,  I  am  always  punc¬ 
tually  at  my  post — but  there  I  must  wait,  and  wait,  and 
wait  in  vain,  for  a  quorum.  Another  meeting  must  be 
called  in  consequence — and,  for  the  like  failure,  another, 
— and  perhaps  another.  Thus  am  I  compelled  to  go 
four  times,  and  to  waste  two  or  three  hours  each  time, 
in  order  to  do  the  business  of  half  an  hour!  And  when 
a  quorum  do  get  together,  it  is  usually  at  least  an  hour 
after  the  time  appointed — and  this  again  I  must  lose. 
From  this  one  cause  I  have  lost,  on  an  average, 
three  hours  a  week,  for  the  last  seven  years  —  which 
is  156  hours  a  year,  or  1092  hours  in  seven  years  — 
which,  at  twelve  working  hours  a  day,  amounts  to  91 
days.  If  to  this  one  item  be  added  all  other  similar 
losses  occasioned  by  the  want  of  punctuality  in  others 
in  regard  to  the  every  day  concerns  of  life  —  the 
sum  total  could  not  be  less  than  one  year  in  seven! 
So  much  of  my  life  has  been  nullified — destroyed  — 
annihilated. 

I  have  been  robbed  of  all  the  money  which  I  might 
have  earned  in  that  time — of  all  the  knowledge  which  I 
might  have  acquired  —  of  all  the  great  and  good  and 
wonderful  things  which  I  might  have  achieved  in  that 
time.  In  a  word,  my  life  has  been  thus  much  curtailed. 


646 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


I  have  been  murdered  by  inches,  and  am  still  bein 
murdered — I  am  stretched  upon  the  rack — am  burnin 
at  the  stake  — starving  in  a  dungeon — and  thus  have 
been  for  years  and  years  and  years — so  that  I  have 
scarcely  found  leisure  for  anything  more  than  a  sorry 
newspaper  paragraph — for  which  I  always  get  more 
kicks  than  coppers. 


F.  G.  F. 


CT9  Qq 


A  PRODIGIOUS  PREDICTION.* 


Happening  the  other  day  to  step  into  Decker  and 
Dyer’s  to  look  at  the  papers  and  pick  up  the  news,  and 
drink  a  glass  of — -I  mean  Adam’s  ale — I  am  a  temper¬ 
ance  man — my  attention  was  presently  arrested  by  the 
conversation  of  two  or  three  of  our  most  eminent  sages 
upon  the  tariff.  As  I  sat  by  the  fire  (it  was  the  snowy 
Tuesday)  warming  my  toes  and  musing  over  the  last 
telegraph,  (I  am  staunch  for  Jackson,  and  go  the  whole 
quadruped,  as  Major  Noah  has  it,)  I  heard  sundry  grave 
tirades  and  pathetic  lamentations  against  and  concerning 
this  same  most  judicious  and  truly  American  tariff.  As 
usual,  my  unlucky  tongue  soon  got  the  better  of  my 
discretion,  and  began,  without  due  reverence  for  my 
masters,  to  utter  an  off-hand  lecture  upon  political 
economy.  Political  economy ,  by-the-way,  is  my  hobby — 
and  I  intend  to  enlighten  or  rather  to  astonish  the 
natives  on  this  theme,  at  the  lyceum,  some  time  or 
other.  But  let  that  pass. 

“Sir,”  said  I,  addressing  the  last  speaker,  “I  have 
bestowed  a  good  deal  of  attention  upon  this  subject”— 
this  I  premised  modestly ,  and  as  an  apology  for  my 
apparent  presumption — “and  I  venture  to  predict  that, 
before  ten  years,  the  cotton  planters  will  be  more  clam- 


*  Printed  in  the  Nashville  Herald,  December  15,  1831. 

(647) 


648  MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


orous  for  a  tariff  to  protect  their  staple  commodity  than 
the  Yankees  themselves  now  are” — and  I  urged  some 
ponderous  reasons  why  and  wherefore. 

“Faith,  (replied  my  hero,)  and  I  have  studied  the 
subject  too,  and  know  all  about  it,  and  you  are  a  block¬ 
head,  and  therefore  may  as  well  hang  up  your  whistle.” 
This  was  a  knock-me-down  syllogism.  And  so  I  was 
silenced,  dumbfounded,  and  put  hors  de  combat ,  in  a  trice, 
as  I  deserved.  After  gathering  up  my  scattered  brains  as 
well  as  I  could,  I  sat  quietly  as  a  listener  again — a  docile 
learner,  as  befitted  me,  at  the  feet  of  these  accomplished 
Gamaliels.  Having  been,  for  some  twenty  years  past,  a 
diligent,  though  somewhat  plodding  (modesty  again) 
student  in  the  school  of  Smith,  Malthus,  Ricardo  and 
Say,  I  tried  to  console  myself  for  the  untoward  logical 
drubbing  by  soberly  realizing  the  extraordinary  privi¬ 
lege  of  being  thus  casually  within  hearing  of  the  living 
and  present  oracles  of  their  most  curious  and  not  very 
comprehensible  science.  I  was  therefore  all  ear — after 
the  gentle  hint  above  recited — which,  by- the- way,  was 
pretty  much  such  a  hint  as  Paddy  got  when  he  was 
kicked  down  stairs. 

As  I  had  no  note-book  at  hand  to  keep  a  running 
record  of  the  pithy  sentences  and  orthodox  dicta  which 
were  put  forth  on  the  occasion,  and  as  my  memory, 
which  is  but  treacherous,  at  best,  was  not  a  little  discom- 
fuzzled  at  that  particular  conjuncture,  I  may  be  unable 
to  do  justice  to  the  learned  gentleman  as  a  reporter,  and 
must  therefore  move  onward  or  back  out,  as  best  I  can, 
in  my  own  muddy  fashion. 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


C49 


Among  other  memorabilia ,  foreign  commerce  was  lauded 
sky  high,  as  the  principal  source  of  national  and  individual 
wealth.  literal ia ,  Poland  was  instanced  to  prove  that 
domestic  industry,  (meaning  domestic  manufactures,) 
without  an  extended  foreign  commerce,  can  never 
enrich,  but  must  necessarily  impoverish  a  country. 
Now  I  (egotism  is  abominable)  had  always  opined  that 
Poland  was  pretty  tolerably  poor,  because  she  was 
merely  an  agricultural,  and  not  a  manufacturing  coun¬ 
try.  And  that  the  very  means  of  insuring  wealth  to 
the  Poles  (after  giving  them  liberty)  would  be  to  intro¬ 
duce  the  mechanical  arts  among  them,  and  to  induce 
them  to  manufacture  at  home  the  raw  material  with 
which  their  fine  territory  abounds,  instead  of  depending 
on  distant  nations  for  most  of  the  comforts  and  luxuries 
of  life  —  and  for  which  they  have  nothing  to  give  in 
exchange  but  wheat:  —  an  article  too  cheap  and  abund¬ 
ant  to  be  worth  growing  for  a  foreign  market.  Fifty 
bushels  of  wheat  would  not  procure  a  Warsovian  exqui¬ 
site  a  fashionable  coat  from  London  or  Paris. 

I  have  learned  (learning  is  a  humbug)  from  history 
and  geography  and  political  economy  (ah,  me  miser um  !) 
and  a  little  travelling  about  in  the  world  (I  have  been  to 
Boston)  with  my  eyes  wide  open,  that  a  purely  agricul¬ 
tural  people  are  always  comparatively  poor — except 
( exceptio  probat  recjulam)  when  and  where  they  happen 
to  monopolize  particular  agricultural  products,  as  was  once 
the  case  with  tobacco  (see  King  James’  Counterblast)  in 
Virginia — and  as  is  the  case,  to  some  extent,  with  rice, 
cotton,  sugar  and  coffee  in  the  West  Indies  and  in  our 


G50 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


Southern  States.  This  too  is  the  sole  reason  why  slaves 
are  profitable  in  such  countries.  Destroy  the  monopoly, 
and  slavery  cannot  exist.  The  system  would  be  too 
expensive.  Could  cotton,  rice,  sugar  and  coffee  be  now 
grown  in  Great  Britain,  France  and  New  England,  as 
well  as  in  Jamaica,  Georgia  and  Louisiana,  not  a  slave 
would  be  worth  the  keeping  five  years  hence.  Again, 
were  Ohio,  Pennsylvania  and  New  York  to  enjoy  a 
monopoly  of  wheat,  so  that  the  rest  of  the  Union  and 
half  of  Europe  should  be  dependent  on  those  States  for 
their  bread,  then  slaves  would  be  more  profitable  there 
than  they  now  are  in  any  part  of  the  world 

Now,  cotton  may  be  grown  over  half  the  surface  of 
our  globe,  and  in  Peru  besides — and  when  it  shall  be 
cultivated  by  freemen  ( ecee  signum ,  in  Liberia)  anywhere 
extensively,  so  as  to  compete  in  the  market  with  our 
Southern  cotton,  I  guess  we  shall  soon  be  as  poor  as 
Poland,  notwithstanding  our  foreign  commerce — unless 
we  shall,  in  the  mean  time,  discover  some  other  agricul¬ 
tural  rarity  of  general  demand,  and  peculiar  to  our  own 
region,  or  unless  we  become  manufacturers  for  ourselves. 

That  the  ill-starred  tariff  has  a  tendency  to  hasten 
the  crisis — that  is,  to  stimulate  the  growth  of  cotton  in 
other  countries,  may  be  true  enough.  But  then,  the 
mischief  is  done.  The  malign  influence  is  abroad. 
The  impulse  has  been  given,  and  it  is  felt.  The  dread¬ 
ful  work  has  commenced.  A  repeal  of  the  tariff  to¬ 
morrow  would  neither  arrest  nor  retard  the  mighty  revo¬ 
lution  which  is  going  forward  in  this  respect.  All  we 
can  now  hope  for,  is  the  continued  monopoly  of  the 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


G51 


home  market — the  protection,  namely,  of  our  cotton 
against  foreign  competition  at  the  very  doors  of  our  own 
manufacturers. 

The  Yankees  are  shrewd  fellows.  They  have  learned 
how  to  manufacture  cotton  cloths  cheaply  and  cleverly: 
and  they  are  now  spering  about  every  nook  and  corner 
of  our  little  planet,  and  perhaps  of  the  moon  to  boot,  to 
see  where  they  can  get  the  raw  material  at  less  price 
than  our  negroes  furnish  it.  Then,  “down  with  the 
tariff,”  will  be  the  Yankee  cry:  —  and  what  will  the 
Southerns  respond? 

But  here  I  must  stop  to  breathe  a  moment— though 
but  just  fairly  landed  in  medias  res. 


F.  G.  F. 


REMINISCENSES 


OF 

REV.  SAMUEL  STANHOPE  SMITH,  D.D.,  LL.D. 

A  LETTER  TO  REV.  DR.  WM.  B.  SPRAGUE.* 


Nashville,  February  2,  1848. 

My  Dear  Sir: — ■ 

You  request  me  to  communicate  my  impressions  of 
the  character  of  the  late  President  Smith.  I  suppose 
you  do  not  expect  me  to  write  an  obituary  notice  or 
biographical  sketch  of  this  eminent  person,  nor  yet  a 
review  of  his  several  publications.  What  you  ask  for, 
if  I  mistake  not,  is  my  own  individual  estimate  of  the 
man,  as  spontaneously  formed  during  the  period  of  my 
personal  intercourse  with  him.  This,  too,  notwith¬ 
standing  the  elaborate  “Memoir  of  his  Life  and 
Writings”  prefixed  to  an  edition  of  his  posthumous 
sermons,  which  appeared  in  1821,  and  which  has  prob¬ 
ably  left  little  or  nothing  to  be  told.  Kather,  there¬ 
fore,  in  compliance  with  the  wishes  of  a  friend,  than 
with  a  hope  of  furnishing  any  additional  matter  of 
interest  or  moment,  I  am  willing  to  make  the  attempt 
to  revive  and  record  some  desultory  reminiscenses  of 
my  venerated  instructor. 

When  I  first  became  acquainted  with  Dr.  Smith,  he 

*  Republished,  by  permission,  from  the  Annals  of  the  American 
Pulpit,  for  which  it  was  originally  prepared. 

(652) 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


653 


had  already  attained  the  summit  of  his  well-earned 
celebrity.  Throughout  the  Middle  and  Southern  States, 
he  was  regarded  as  the  most  eloquent  and  learned  divine 
among  his  contemporaries.  His  reputation  as  a  popular 
preacher  had  been  long  before  established  in  Virginia, 
where  Samuel  Davies  was  still  remembered  by  multi¬ 
tudes  of  his  hearers,  and  while  Patrick  Henry  was  yet  in 
the  zenith  of  his  brilliant  career.  There  too  he  had 
founded  a  flourishing  college;  and  to  his  sole  agency  and 
influence  Hampden  Sidney  owed  its  origin  and  early  pros¬ 
perity.  In  the  midst  of  his  successful  labours,  as  its 
principal,  and  as  the  pastor  of  a  church  in  its  vicinity,  he 
had  been  invited  by  his  Alma  Mater  to  return  to  the 
scene  of  his  youthful  studies,  and  his  first  essays  as  a 
tutor.  He  had  accepted  the  invitation,  and  for  years, 
first  as  professor,  and  afterwards  as  president,  had  con¬ 
tributed  to  elevate  the  college  to  a  position  of  the 
highest  usefulness  and  respectability. 

It  was  in  these  auspicious  circumstances,— just  after 
the  desolations  occasioned  by  the  fire  in  1802  had  been 
repaired,- — -that  I  began  to  attend  his  instructions,  and  to 
know  him  as  the  president.  The  opinion  of  college  lads 
about  men  and  institutions  may  be  of  little  value  in  the 
great  world;  and  yet  it  is  oftentimes  but  the  echo  of  the 
public  voice,  or  a  somewhat  exaggerated  expression  of 
the  popular  judgment.  They  are  apt  to  think  and 
speak  of  their  teachers  as  they  hear  others  speak  of 
them.  From  our  childhood,  we  (the  students)  had  never 
heard  the  Doctor’s  name  pronounced  but  with  praise. 
We  came  to  the  college,  therefore,  prepared  to  look  up 


654 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


to  him  as  the  great  man  of  the  age.  His  superior 
talents  and  accomplishments,  as  a  preacher,  scholar, 
philosopher  and  writer  were  everywhere  spoken  of  and 
acknowledged.  And  we  never  doubted  that  he  pos¬ 
sessed  all  the  attributes  and  graces  which  could 
dignify  and  adorn  the  high  station  which  he  filled. 
Such  were  our  prepossessions  in  his  favour  at  the 
outset.  And  there  was  no  subsequent  reaction.  He 
daily  grew  in  our  esteem.  We  thought  not  only  that 
he  was  equal  to  every  emergency,  but  that  no  other 
man  could  have  succeeded  so  well.  He  seemed  always 
to  say  and  to  do  everything  in  the  happiest  manner.  In 
his  various  college  performances,  in  the  chapel,  and  in 
the  recitation  room,  however  brief  or  unpremeditated,  or 
by  whatever  occasion  suggested, — as  well  as  in  the  more 
ornate  and  studied  exercises  of  the  pulpit,— he  satisfied 
every  expectation.  It  seemed  natural  for  him  “to  put 
proper  words  in  proper  places/’  and  to  select  the  most 
expressive.  There  was  no  affectation  or  mannerism,  or 
artifice,  or  formality,  about  him.  He  was  simple  and 
unostentatious,  and  apparently  regardless  or  forgetful  of 
himself.  We  admired  his  personal  appearance  and 
deportment.  And  we  always  listened  to  his  speech  with 
pleasure  if  not  with  profit.  We  never  questioned  his 
sincerity  and  uprightness.  We  revered  him  as  a  faithful 
Christian  minister, — far  above  reproach  or  suspicion. 

He  was  less  obnoxious,  probably  than  most  other  men 
in  the  like  office,  to  the  witticisms,  and  ridicule,  and 
s waggery,  of  the  disorderly  and  mischievous  portion  of 
the  students.  That  these  should  not  have  been  always 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS.  G55 

particularly  gratified  with  liis  discipline,  might  be  pre¬ 
sumed.  But  I  never  witnessed  any  attempt  to  excite  a 
laugh  at  his  expense,  or  to  play  off  a  trick  upon  him 
in  any  fashion,  or  to  exhibit  him  in  a  ludicrous  attitude, 
or  to  caricature  any  of  his  remarks  or  actions.  He 
never  betrayed  any  foibles,  or  defects,  or  peculiarities, 
which  could  serve  the  purpose  either  of  fun  or  abuse. 
He  was  the  well-bred,  courteous  gentleman,  everywhere, 
at  all  times,  in  all  companies,  on  all  occasions.  The 
dignity  of  his  bearing,  though  not  repulsive  or  oppressive, 
was  uniform  and  imposing.  His  very  presence  would 
rebuke,  overawe,  and  silence  the  most  turbulent  assem¬ 
blage  of  youth  that  ever  met  for  sport  or  riot, — during 
my  time  at  least. 

Instead  of  reading  his  written  Lectures  on  Moral 
Philosophy,  and  the  Evidences  of  Christianity,  thej^ 
were  previously  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  students,  and 
carefully  studied  in  manuscript  as  text-books.  Each 
member  of  the  Senior  class  possessed  a  copy,  —  tran¬ 
scribed  by  himself  or  some  person  whom  he  employed  to 
do  it,  or  purchased  from  a  predecessor.  Questions  were 
asked  upon  the  subject-matter  of  the  lecture,  accom¬ 
panied  or  followed  by  pertinent  illustrations  and  ex¬ 
planations.  I  have  already  said  enough  to  show  how 
we  appreciated  these  familiar  instructions. 

Of  the  government  of  the  college  at  this  peiiod  of  its 
greatest  prosperity,  under  President  Smith,  I  can  hardly 
use  language  too  favourable.  It  was  maintained  in  rigid 
accordance  with  the  spirit  and  letter  of  the  printed  code 
of  laws,  which  every  student  at  his  matriculation,  prom- 
vol.  in. — 46 


G56 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


isecl  to  obey.  I  do  not  mean  that  there  occurred  no 
violations  of  law,  or  that  every  transgressor  was  duly 
punished.  Such  perfection  has  never  been  attained  in 
any  school  or  community,  or  under  any  system  of 
government  or  administration.  It  is  enough  to  say  that 
we  all  fully  believed  that  if  we  neglected  our  duties,  or 
committed  any  offence,  we  should  certainly  be  dealt 
with  according  to  our  deserts;  and  that  all  reasonable 
vigilance  was  exerted,  both  to  prevent  and  detect  every 
species  of  delinquency  or  disorder.  We  regarded  the 
Doctor  as  a  firm,  resolute,  fearless,  and  decided  man, — 
who  would  not  wink  at  crime  or  folly, — but  who,  never¬ 
theless,  cherished  towards  us  the  most  kindly  and 
paternal  feelings.  My  present  deliberate  opinion  is, 
that  he  was  one  of  the  ablest  and  most  successful 
disciplinarians  of  any  age.  I  speak  of  him  as  he  was 
in  his  best  days;  and  these  alone  ought  to  testify  as  to 
his  capacity  and  conduct. 

Some  time  after  graduation,  I  returned  to  Princeton, 
when  as  a  tutor  in  the  college,  and  student  of  theology, 
(from  1807  to  1810,)  I  became  more  intimately  ac¬ 
quainted  with  Dr.  Smith:  and  again,  from  his  resig¬ 
nation  in  1812  to  his  decease  in  1819,  my  intercourse 
with  him  continued  without  interruption.  Dr.  Smith 
officiated  as  Professor  of  Theology,  during  the  whole 
period  of  his  presidency,  with  the  exception  of  two 
or  three  years,  (from  1803  to  1806,)  when  that  chair 
was  occupied  by  the  Rev.  Henry  Kollock,  D.D.  The 
“ Divinity  Class”  consisted,  in  my  time,  of  some  eight 
or  ten  young  men,  including  the  College  Tutors, — to 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


657 


whose  instruction  he  devoted  two  evenings  of  the  week. 
He  generally  read  a  portion  of  his  Lectures  or  notes  as 
he  called  them,  and  then  dilated  upon  the  topics,  in  a 
free  colloquial  style,  and  always  much  to  our  edification. 
He  directed  our  course  of  reading,  heard  our  essays,  and 
suggested  subjects  for  investigation,  dissertation,  or  oral 
disputation.  The  course  included  systematic  Theology, 
ecclesiastical  history  and  polity,  pastoral  duties,  the 
Bible,  and  a  large  range  in  the  fields  of  classic  and 
general  literature.  He  also  attended  and  presided  over 
an  association,  composed  of  the  above  and  other  resident 
graduates,  who  used  to  meet  once  a  week  for  mutual 
improvement.  This  was  a  kind  of  philosophical  as  well 
as  debating  society.  Here  too,  the  learned  President  in 
exhibiting  the  pro  and  con  of  controversy,  in  disentan¬ 
gling  a  knotty  question,  in  distinguishing  the  real  and 
practical  from  the  cloudy  and  incomprehensible,  in  ex¬ 
posing  error  and  sophistry,  in  sustaining  truth  and  sound 
logic,  or  in  “  summing  up,” — was  the  “  great  master,” — 
and  the  liberal  umpire  in  all  our  wordy  battles. 

It  will  be  seen  from  what  has  been  said,  that  he  must 
have  been  a  working  man.  The  stated  preacher  and 
pastor,  the  indefatigable  teacher,  (of  sciences,  too, 
usually  distributed  among  several  Professors,)  the  author 
of  his  own  text-books  and  of  not  a  few  others,  the 
responsible  Head  and  Governor  of  a  College,  which  he 
had  twice  re-edified,  the  regular  attendant  and  a  most 
efficient  member  of  the  judicatories  of  the  Church 
which  he  loved, — and  more  frequently  invited  or  con¬ 
strained  to  the  performance  of  special  and  honourable 
vol.  hi. — 42 


658 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


services  than  any  of  his  contemporaries,  —  verily  he 
seldom  could  have  laid  aside  his  “harness”  or  known 
the  comfort  of  repose. 

Of  his  published  works,  though  numerous  and  diversi¬ 
fied,  I  shall  take  no  further  notice  than  to  add  the 
remark  that  few  men,  in  any  situation,  have  written  so 
much  and  so  well.  These,  however,  do  not  fairly  por¬ 
tray  the  man.  Of  their  literary  merit  the  critical  reader 
will  judge  for  himself.  His  philosophy  and  biblical 
exegesis,  in  some  particulars,  may  be  cjuestioned  or  dis¬ 
allowed;  but  all  will  concede  to  him  candour,  honesty, 
habitual  reverence  for  truth  and  righteousness,  and  great 
ability  in  the  exposition  and  defense  of  his  theories.  He 
was  a  diligent,  persevering  student  through  life.  He 
knew  how  to  employ  usefully  every  leisure  moment  with 
pen  or  book.  He  was  conversant  with  the  literature, 
science,  philosophy,  and  politics,  of  ancient  and  modern 
times.  He  was  a  classical  scholar  in  the  highest  and 
best  acceptation  of  the  phrase.  He  was  master,  not 
merely  of  the  mechanism  and  grammar  of  the  Greek 
and  Latin  languages,  but  was  deeply  imbued  with  the 
spirit  of  the  great  authors.  His  delicate  and  cultivated 
taste  enabled  him  to  discriminate  and  to  relish  the  finest 
and  most  exquisitely  wrought  passages,  as  well  as  the 
more  obvious  beauties  and  sublimities,  of  the  poet  and 
the  orator.  He  wrote  and  conversed  in  Latin  with  great 
facility,  and  was  a  first  rate  prosodist.  In  these  accom¬ 
plishments  I  have  rarely  met  his  equal. 

He  was  not  a  recluse.  His  varied  duties,  public  and 
professional,  required  him  to  be  much  abroad  in  the 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


world,  and  to  mingle  with  all  sorts  and  classes  of  people. 
His  house  was  frequented  by  the  good,  the  great,  the 
wise,  the  intelligent;  and  humble  merit  was  always 
welcome  at  his  board  and  fireside.  He  was  not  ambi¬ 
tious,  except  in  the  apostolic  sense.  Instead  of  any 
leaning  to  covetousness,  the  tendency  of  his  benevolent 
nature  was  rather  to  the  opposite  extreme.  He  was  free 
from  envy,  and  jealousy,  and  resentment.  Of  these  I 
could  never  detect  in  him  the  slightest  indication.  He 
had  enemies,  and  he  knew  them.  He  was  often  misrep¬ 
resented,  and  sometimes  grossly  slandered.  But  he 
uttered  no  words  of  complaint,  or  anger,  or  unkindness. 
I  believe  he  forgave  them  and  prayed  for  them.  He 
was  an  Israelite  indeed,  in  whom  was  no  guile.  He 
appeared  incapable  of  deception,  or  intrigue,  or  crafty 
management,  for  any  purpose.  He  was  no  bigot  or  dog¬ 
matist.  He  cheerfully  conceded  to  others  the  same 
liberty,  with  all  the  rights  of  conscience  and  judgment, 
which  he  claimed  for  himself.  He  would  defend  his  own 
creed  or  opinions  without  arrogance  or  bitterness.  He 
could  demolish  error  or  heresy,  without  abusing  or 
denouncing  men,  or  sects,  or  parties. 

In  the  General  Assembly,  Synod,  and  Presbytery,  of 
his  Church,  he  was  confessedly  primus  inter  pares , — or 
at  least  second  to  none, — if  report  and  tradition  may  be 
credited.  But  as  my  observation  did  not  extend  to 
these,  I  shall  attempt  no  description.  There  was  a  wide 
difference  in  the  character  of  his  eloquence,  between  his 
early  and  later  years,  I  happened,  while  on  a  visit  to 


660 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


Virginia  in  1810,  to  meet  with  several  elderly  persons 
who  had  heard  him  preach,  when  a  young  man.  They 
spoke  of  him  as  an  impassioned  orator, — like  Whitefield 
or  their  own  Davies  and  Henry.  They  spoke,  too,  of 
his  patriotic  speeches  at  the  beginning  of  the  Revolu¬ 
tion,  and  of  their  marvellous  effect  upon  the  people. 
Now  I  never  witnessed  anything  of  this  sort.  He  had 
long  before  my  day  been  disabled  for  such  efforts.  In 
the  pulpit,  when  I  heard  him,  he  was  comparatively 
calm  and  subdued  in  manner, — though  the  most  digni¬ 
fied,  graceful  and  impressive  of  preachers. 

At  the  age  of  sixty-two,  he  was  compelled,  by  ill 
health,  to  relinquish  all  public  employments.  During 
the  remaining  seven  years  he  lived  in  retirement. 
This  was  perhaps  the  most  beautiful  and  instructive 
period  of  his  life.  It  often  looms  up  before  me  like  a 
bright,  blessed,  glorious  vision, — such  as  we  dream  of, 
but  never  realize.  It  seemed  as  though  all  the  Christian 
graces  and  virtues,  freed  from  every  human  imperfec¬ 
tion,  had  now  clustered  around  him,  and  blended  to¬ 
gether,  like  the  colors  of  the  rainbow,  into  a  living  form 
of  chastened,  hallowed,  radiant  loveliness. 

His  person,  presence,  and  carriage  were  so  remarkable 
that  he  never  entered  the  village  church  or  college 
chapel,  or  walked  the  streets,  or  appeared  in  any 
company,  without  arresting  attention,  or  creating  a 
sensation,  not  of  surprise  or  wonder,  but  of  pleasing, 
grateful  admiration,  —  a  kind  of  involuntary  emotion 
and  homage  of  the  heart — a  tribute  as  cordially  yielded 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


661 


as  it  was  richly  deserved.  In  a  word,  the  venerable 
figure,  the  saintly  aspect,  the  benignant  smile,  the 
ethereal  spirit,  the  tranquil  resignation,  the  humble 
faith,  the  cheerful  temper,  the  habitual  meekness,  the 
generous  sympathy,  the  comprehensive  charity,  the 
modest  unpretending  gentleness  of  his  whole  manner, 
— all  proclaimed  the  mature  and  gifted  Christian,  ready 
to  depart,  and  calmly  expecting  his  final  translation  to  a 
more  congenial  world. 

To  the  last,  this  good  man  continued  accessible  and 
attractive  to  all;  and  he  well  knew  how  to  engage  in 
pleasant  and  profitable  conversation  with  persons  of 
every  variety  of  age,  rank,  and  condition.  Always  the 
Christian  gentleman,  it  was  impossible  for  him  to  make 
an  approach  towards  levity  or  coarseness,  in  word  or  act. 
I  never  heard  from  his  lips  an  anecdote  or  allusion,  a 
hint  or  expression,  which  might  not  have  been  whispered 
in  seraph’s  ears.  This  innate  purity  or  acquired  sense 
of  propriety,  I  think,  was  peculiar  and  characteristic. 
It  certainly  is  not  always  prominent  even  among  divines. 
He  took  great  interest  in  the  youthful  candidates  for 
the  ministry.  He  delighted  much  in  their  society. 
His  little  parlour  was  often  filled  with  them.  And 
then,  what  words  of  wisdom,  of  kindness,  of  encour¬ 
agement,  of  counsel, — and  the  prayer! — for  he  always 
concluded  these  meetings  with  prayer.  The  prayer  of 
the  dying  patriarch, — of  the  ascending  prophet! — for 
such  to  us  he  seemed.  Thus  blandly  and  peacefully 
passed  away  the  latter  years  of  the  veteran  invalid 


662  MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 

soldier  of  the  cross, — doing  what  he  could,- — still,  as 
ever,  faithful  to  his  vows,  and  zealous  in  his  Master’s 
service.  If  he  had  faults,  I  saw  them  not;  or  if  I  did, 
I  have  long  since  forgotten  them.  Such  are  my  recol¬ 
lections  of  Dr.  Smith. 

Very  respectfully  and  truly  yours, 

Philip  Lindsley. 


THOUGHTS  ON  SLAVERY. 


AN  EXTRACT. 

[The  following  passage  is  the  one  to  which  reference  is  made  on  page 
574  of  the  present  volume,  as  containing  the  author’s  earlier  views  on 
American  Slavery.  It  formed  a  part  of  his  discourse  from  Gal.  i.  10, 
on  leaving  Princeton  in  1824,  and  was  published  at  the  time  in 
pamphlet  form  at  the  request  of  the  Senior  Class  of  the  College  of 
New  Jersey,  accompanied  by  an  Appendix,  explaining  more  fully  his 
position.  As,  however,  the  whole  passage  was  omitted  in  the  author’s 
carefully  revised  manuscript  copy  of  the  discourse,  written  long  after¬ 
ward  at  New  Albany,  it  was  thought  best,  in  republishing  the  discourse 
in  the  second  volume  of  his  Works,  to  follow  the  manuscript  rather  than 
the  printed  copy.  Hence  the  sermon  now  appears  without  the  passage. 
But,  inasmuch  as  the  passage  is  a  remarkable  one,  as  showing  the 
author’s  views  at  that  early  period,  and  inasmuch  as  he  had  himself 
once  committed  it  to  the  press,  it  has  been  thought  every  way  appro¬ 
priate  to  insert  it,  along  with  the  explanatory  Appendix,  as  a  separate 
article,  in  this  volume  of  his  political  and  miscellaneous  writings.] 

Men  often  overlook  the  claims  to  their  generosity 

which  are  at  hand — near  at  home — at  their  very  doors 

— while  they  make  a  show  of  extraordinary  sympathy 

and  regard  for  remote  objects,  about  which  the  public 

mind  may  happen  to  be  greatly  excited.  They  will 

give,  for  instance,  to  the  rescue  of  the  Greeks  from 

Turkish  oppression,  while  they  forget  that  we  retain 

in  this  land  of  liberty  a  people  as  numerous  as  the 

Greeks,  in  a  state  of  bondage,  a  hundred-fold  more 

degrading  and  miserable  than  any  Mohammedan  tyrant 

(663) 


664  MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


ever  dreamt  of  inflicting  on  his  conquered  vassals.  I 
object  not  to  our  aiding  the  Greeks  in  their  noble 
struggle  for  independence  and  the  rights  of  man.  Theirs 
is  a  good  cause,  and  worthy  of  more  substantial  support 
than  all  our  eloquent  speeches  have  yet  procured  for  it. 

But  when  will  Christian  charity  awake  to  the  tears 
and  groans  and  cries  and  sufferings  of  the  two  millions 
of  wretched  Africans,  who  were  dragged  from  their  dis¬ 
tant  homes  by  Christian  avarice, — not  subdued  in  the 
held  of  battle,  and  subjected  to  the  usual  fate  of  a  con¬ 
quered  people,  as  were  the  Greeks, — and  who  are  here 
doomed,  under  Christian  masters,  to  drink  the  bitterest 
cup  ever  presented  to  the  lips  of  humanity  ?  The  very 
tenderest  mercies  which  they  experience  at  our  hands, 
are  cruelty  and  mockery,  compared  with  the  harshest 
treatment  which  the  Mussulman  has  ever  shown  to  a 
Christian  subject  in  time  of  peace.  And  even  in  the 
tumult  and  fury  of  rebellion,  have  the  infidel  Turks 
been  more  prompt  to  destroy  and  to  exterminate,  than 
are  Christians  in  seasons  of  insurrection  among  their 
Christian  slaves  ?  How  absurd  is  it  for  us  to  volunteer 
as  knights-errant  in  the  cause  of  liberty,  humanity,  and 
religion,  while  the  fairest  portions  of  our  land  are  cursed 
and  blasted  with  ignorance  and  depravity  and  slavery 
and  cruelty,  to  which  the  old  world  has  never  furnished 
a  parallel ! 

Colonization  Societies  may  do  great  good  both  to  indi¬ 
viduals  here,  and  to  Africa  and  to  Hayti.  They  may  do 
infinite  good,  especially  to  injured  Africa.  They  may 
withdraw  from  us  many  turbulent,  ambitious  spirits, — 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


665 


many  laz y,  worthless  vagabonds, — many  who  here 
w^ould  be  burdensome  or  dangerous  to  the  community, 
but  who  may,  in  a  more  congenial  abode,  prove  a  bless¬ 
ing  and  an  honour  to  their  species.  Nay,  it  is  possible 
that  in  time  they  may  succeed  in  conveying  the  whole 
black  population  of  these  Northern  States  to  the  land 
of  their  fathers  or  of  their  brethren.  Heaven  prosper 
them,  therefore,  and  dispose  every  well-wisher  to  his 
country  to  countenance  and  to  aid  them !  But  they  will 
never  touch  the  tremendous  evil  which  exists, — which  is 
every  day  rapidly  augmenting, — and  which  is  already 
so  threatening  and  appalling  in  its  aspect  that  few  dare 
to  look  it  in  the  face. 

Our  slaves  must  be  emancipated  upon  the  soil  which 
they  cultivate.  There  is  no  alternative.  And  here  they 
will  be  emancipated,  either  by  the  fears,  the  interest,  or 
the  Christian  kindness  of  their  oppressors ;  or,  they  will, 
by  violence,  wrrest  the  rod  from  the  tyrant’s  grasp,  and 
drench  in  the  white  man’s  blood  that  soil  which  has  so 
long  been  watered  by  their  tears.  Two  millions  of 
human  beings  cannot  be  removed.  They  cannot  be 
kept  in  perpetual  bondage.  In  twenty  years  they  will 
be  four  millions, — in  forty  or  fifty  years,  eight  millions, 
— and  so  concentrated  in  particular  sections  of  our 
country  that  one  daring  effort  will  break  their  chains 
forever. 

Give  them  Christian  instruction, — give  them  the 
Bible,  you  will  say.  Good, — give  them  the  Bible,  and 
teach  them  to  read  it.  Christians  cannot  do  less.  What 
a  horrible  state  is  that  which  renders  the  distribution 


666 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


of  the  Bible  hazardous  to  the  peace  and  welfare  of  any 
community  !  But  so  it  is.  Give  the  negroes  the  Bible, 
and  you  virtually  charter  their  freedom.  When  did  the 
Bible  ever  circulate  freely  and  generally  among  a  people 
without  inspiring  them  with  a  love  of  liberty,  and  event¬ 
ually  ensuring  them  liberty  ?  The  connection  of  civil 
liberty  with  religious  knowledge  is  so  obvious  that  it 
has  long  been  a  hackneyed  topic  of  declamation,  in  re¬ 
ference  to  every  other  people  except  the  African  slaves. 
To  them,  indeed,  many  affect  to  imagine  that  the  Bible 
may  be  sent  to  render  them  more  contented  with  their 
lot,  to  enable  them  to  endure  the  driver’s  lash,  to  be 
insensible  to  the  pang  of  separation  from  a  husband,  a 
wife,  a  parent,  or  a  child,  at  the  bidding  of  avarice  or 
caprice ;  and  to  hug  their  chains  in  passive  submission. 
As  if  they  were  by  nature  either  better  than  all  other 
men,  or  so  far  inferior  to  all  others  as  to  be  incapable  of 
feeling  or  appreciating  the  motives  by  which  they  are 
actuated. 

Here  then  is  a  dilemma,  rather  awkward,  indeed,  for 
an  American  philanthropist  to  look  at.  We  must  either 
keep  the  negroes  in  profound  ignorance  of  the  Bible,  or, 
by  bestowing  it  on  them,  we  must  contemplate  their 
eventual  emancipation. 

Partial  experiment — particular  cases — prove  nothing. 
A  few  individuals,  here  and  there,  may,  by  religious  in¬ 
struction,  become  the  better  servants,  and,  if  really  pious, 
live  happily  in  bondage.  But  let  the  Bible  shed  its 
light  upon,  and  unfold  its  treasures  to  the  whole 
coloured  population,  and  an  impulse  shall  be  given 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


667 


to  the  mighty  mass  which  no  earthly  power  can  resist 
or  control.  Twenty  white  men  might  live  very  obedient 
to  their  masters’  pleasure  in  Algiers ;  but  twenty  thou¬ 
sand,  however  Christian  they  might  be,  would  not  hesi¬ 
tate  to  regain  their  liberty  at  the  hazard  of  destroying 
the  whole  city,  and  of  burying  in  its  ruins  the  entire 
population.  Such,  whether  right  or  wrong,  is  human 
nature.  If  the  Bible  be  expected  to  achieve  such 
miracles  of  passive  obedience  and  non-resistance,  why 
not  send  it  to  the  Greeks,  to  teach  them  the  grace  of 
patience  and  submission,  instead  of  furnishing  them 
with  money  and  arms  to  spread  death  and  desolation 
around  them  ?  With  what  dignity  and  truth  might  not 
the  Turkish  despot  retort  upon  Christian  freemen  their 
inconsistency  and  contradictions ! 

Our  Christian  ancestors,  with  the  Bible  in  every 
man’s  hands,  and  confessedly  the  most  pious  race  on 
the  globe,  resisted  even  to  blood,  the  very  first  encroach¬ 
ment  on  their  political  rights,  and  to  secure  them,  in¬ 
volved  their  country  in  all  the  horrors  of  a  civil  war. 
And  who  has  ever  blamed  them  for  thus  withstanding, 
and  for  ultimately  establishing  the  perfect  independence 
of  their  country  ?  Let  us  beware  then  of  the  kind  of 
logic  which  we  apply  to  men  of  like  passions  with  our¬ 
selves.  Assuredly,  the  day  of  retribution  is  at  hand. 
It  will  be  a  terrible  da}^ ;  unless,  by  the  seasonable  in¬ 
tervention  of  our  charities,  we  avert  it. 

Here  is  scope  enough  for  all  the  charitable  wisdom 
and  enterprise  of  all  our  statesmen,  philanthropists, 
scholars,  ministers,  and  Christians.  When  shall  the 


668 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


united  energies  of  American  charity  and  patriotism  be 
brought  to  bear  upon  it  with  efficiency  and  success  ? 

The  slaves,  I  repeat,  must  be  free,  and  will  be  free 
upon  the  soil  which  they  now  inhabit.  I  have  not 
hazarded  the  assertion  lightly,  nor  without  having  in 
mind  a  plan  for  the  purpose  : — but  this  is  not  the  occa¬ 
sion  for  its  development.  My  remarks  on  this  fearful 
subject  have  been  this  day  pronounced  in  a  corner, — 
where,  if  they  do  no  good,  they  can  do  no  harm.  I 
should  not  have  spoken  thus  in  a  slave-holding  State. 
Prudence,  benevolence,  would  have  forbid  it.  When  I 
shall  have  pitched  my  tent  among  the  wretched  sufferers 
beyond  the  mountains,  I  shall  humbly  look  to  Heaven 
for  direction  as  to  the  line  of  conduct  which  duty  may 
require  me  to  pursue. 

I  have  wandered  from  my  subject, — perhaps  from  my 
province, — but  I  have  wandered  purposely. 


As  the  author,  in  the  preceding  Discourse,  has  taken 
occasion  to  animadvert,  with  considerable  freedom,  upon 
the  subject  of  slavery,  he  begs  leave  to  say,  that,  at  the 
time,  he  had  not  the  most  distant  idea  of  publishing  his 
remarks ;  and  when,  upon  solicitation,  he  consented  to 
the  printing  of  the  Discourse,  he  did  not  anticipate  its 
circulation  much  beyond  the  limits  of  the  village  in 
which  it  was  delivered.  Since,  however,  it  is  possible 
a  copy  or  two  may  find  their  way  to  some  sections  of 
our  country  where  the  author  would  regret  that  his  sen- 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


669 


timents  or  feelings  should  be  misapprehended,  or  mis¬ 
represented,  he  further  adds,  that  he  had  no  intention 
to  censure  any  particular  portion  of  his  fellow-citizens 
more  than  another.  Modern  slavery,  with  all  its  evils 
and  horrors,  is  the  sin  of  Christendom.  As  it  exists 
among  us,  it  originated  under  the  British  Government. 
It  is  an  evil  which  we  have  inherited.  It  is  acknow¬ 
ledged  to  be  an  evil,  and  lamented  as  such,  by  all  our 
citizens.  In  some  places  it  is  felt  to  a  much  greater 
extent  than  in  others.  In  several  of  the  British  colonies, 
it  has  assumed  an  aspect  the  most  horrific  and  portentous. 
And  it  was,  probably,  rather  from  its  character,  as  there 
presented,  that  the  author  received  his  impressions,  than 
from  what  has  yet  occurred  among  ourselves.  Still,  the 
injustice,  and  the  danger,  and  the  demoralizing  influence 
of  slavery  exist,  in  awful  prominence,  in  this  land  of 
liberty  and  Christianity.  Who  will  deny  it?  Nor  are 
the  author’s  anticipations  in  regard  to  the  future  at  all 
singular ;  or  more  fearful  than  have  been  often  expressed 
by  far  abler  judges.  Mr.  Jefferson,  in  a  letter  to  Gov¬ 
ernor  Coles,  written  ten  years  ago,  predicts  a  catastrophe 
as  tragical,  at  least,  as  Mr.  Wilberforce  himself  would 
have  cared  to  hazard.  “Yet  (says  Mr.  J.)  the  hour  of 
emancipation  is  advancing  in  the  march  of  time.  It 
will  come;  and  whether  brought  on  by  the  generous 
energyn)f  our  own  minds,  or  by  the  bloody  process  of 
St.  Domingo,  excited  and  conducted  by  the  power  of  our 
present  enemy,  if  once  stationed  permanently  within  our 
country,  offering  asylum  and  arms  to  the  oppressed,  is  a 
leaf  of  our  history  not  yet  turned  over.” 


G70 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


That  our  slaves  will  be  free  at  some  not  very  distant 
day,  seems  to  be  taken  for  granted  by  every  body.  The 
grand  question  is,  how  shall  the  work  of  emancipation 
be  accomplished  ?  When  shall  it  be  commenced  ?  That 
the  negroes  can  ever  be  transported  across  the  ocean,  is 
an  idea  too  chimerical  to  be  seriously  entertained  by  any 
man.  The  probability  is,  that  an  increase  rather  than 
a  diminution  of  their  numbers  will  be  the  consequence 
of  the  benevolent  but  tardy  efforts  of  our  Colonization 
Societies.  When  did  any  country  lose  in  numbers  by 
sending  colonies  abroad?  From  Europe  the  whole  con¬ 
tinent  of  America  has  been  lately  peopled,  and  yet 
Europe  has  been  steadily  increasing  in  population.  But 
space  is  not  here  allowed  for  the  argument. 

In  asserting  that  the  slaves  must  be  free  in  the  land 
where  they  now  live,  their  future  amalgamation  with 
the  whites  was  not  contemplated  as  desirable,  or  even 
possible.  Nor  is  it  necessary  that  they  should  reside 
together  in  the  same  State  or  community  any  longer 
than  it  shall  be  found  mutually  agreeable  and  beneficial. 
Territory  may  be  assigned  them  for  their  exclusive 
habitation  whenever  they  shall  be  capable  of  managing 
their  own  concerns. 

No  rash  or  sudden  emancipation  would  be  just,  or 
wise,  or  politic,  or  humane.  It  would  be  Quixotism  and 
madness  to  think  of  giving  liberty  to  the  whole  mass  at 
once,  without  any  previous  training  or  discipline.  What 
plan  could  be  devised  and  carried  into  effect  for  such  a 
safe  and  gradual  emancipation,  as  would  be  consistent 
with  the  acquired  rights  of  their  holders,  and  prove  a 


MISCELLA  EOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


671 


common  blessing  to  all  parties,  still  remains  the  great 
desideratum.  Nor  does  the  author  mean,  at  present, 
to  attempt  to  supply  it  by  any  speculations  of  his  own 
upon  the  subject.  Hundreds  of  writers  might  be  re¬ 
ferred  to  for  opinions  and  information,  as  well  as  many 
important  facts  and  successful  experiments.  Among 
the  latter,  the  attention  of  the  benevolent  reader  is 
particularly  directed  to  the  noble  example  recently  set 
us  by  the  Republic  of  Colombia;  and  to  the  system 
adopted  by  the  late  venerable  Joshua  Steele,  for  the 
improvement  and  eventual  emancipation  of  the  slaves 
on  his  own  estates  in  Barbadoes. 

It  is  believed  that  no  insuperable  difficulty  will  lie  in 
the  way  whenever  men  shall  be  disposed  to  engage 
heartily  in  this  good  work.  “  The  love  of  justice  and 
the  love  of  country  (says  Mr.  Jefferson)  plead  equally 
the  cause  of  these  people;  and  it  is  a  mortal  reproach 
to  us  that  they  should  have  pleaded  it  so  long  in  vain, 
and  should  have  produced  not  a  single  effort;  nay,  I 
fear,  not  much  serious  willingness  to  relieve  them  and 
ourselves  from  our  present  condition  of  moral  and  poli¬ 
tical  reprobation.” 

If  it  be  our  fixed  purpose  to  keep  them  in  bondage 
as  long  as  possible,  then  do  we  act  consistently  and 
warily  in  withholding  from  them  all  manner  of  instruc¬ 
tion.  Enlightened  men  can  never  be  retained  in  ser¬ 
vitude  except  by  a  power  so  decidedly  superior  that  re¬ 
sistance  would  be  folly.  Let  knowledge  be  diffused 
throughout  any  community,  and  a  speedy  end  will  be 
put  to  all  despotism,  tyranny,  and  oppression.  Any 


G72 


MISCELLANEOUS  DISCOURSES  AND  ESSAYS. 


system  of  education,  therefore,  designed  for  the  blacks, 
which  comprehends  even  the  simple  art  of  reading,  ought 
to  look  forward  to  their  seasonable  emancipation,  and  be 
preparatory  to  it.  Otherwise  we  shall  nurture  in  our 
own  bosom  an  enemy  who  will  eagerly  seize  the  first 
opportunity  to  repay  with  a  vengeance  all  our  well- 
intended  kindness.  Let  the  light  of  science  and  of  the 
Bible  shine  upon  the  slave,  wherever  he  is  to  be  found 
in  large  numbers,  and  he  will  rend  in  sunder  the  strongest 
fetters,  and  assume  that  attitude  which  the  conscious 
dignity  of  his  nature  claims  as  his  inherent  indefeasible 
right. 


INDEX. 


VOL.  III. — 43 


% 


A 


COMPLETE  INDEX 

TO 

THE  THREE  VOLUMES. 


A 

Abel,  being  a  shepherd,  could  not  have 
been  a  savage,  iii.  99. 

Abimelech,  a  borrower  from  the  sacred 
treasury,  iii.  343. 

Abolition,  of  existing  institutions,  all  the 
rage,  i.  398. 

Abolitionists,  Quixotic  objects  of,  i.  509; 
rights  and  duties  of,  510 ;  equally  at 
fault  with  pro-slavery  men,  iii.  579, 
581;  both  agree  on  disunion,  568;  ori¬ 
ginated  at  the  South,  570;  false  phi¬ 
lanthropy  of,  667,  670. 

Aborigines,  of  America,  had  lost  the 
knowledge  of  the  arts,  iii.  118;  various 
opinions  on,  153;  must  have  been  a 
primitive  people,  155;  separation  from 
other  races  the  cause  of  their  degene¬ 
racy,  155  ;  striking  resemblance  among, 
165;  not  all  descendants  of  Ham,  165 ; 
their  deplorable  destiny,  165 ;  occu¬ 
pied  this  continent  after  the  dispersion 
at  Babel,  186. 

Aborigines,  of  Greece  and  Italy,  a  savage 
people,  iii.  120. 

Abraham,  his  trial  in  the  case  of  Isaac, 

ii.  683 ;  his  conduct  vindicated  and  ex¬ 
plained,  684. 

Absalom,  his  democratic  blandishments, 

iii.  343. 

Abstinence,  total,  the  only  remedy  for  in¬ 
temperance,  iii.  510;  main  principle  of 
the  temperance  cause,  529 ;  etfective 
cure  for  drunkenness,  531. 

Absurdity  of  banking,  exhibited  in  the 
Indiana  system,  iii.  585,  586. 

Abused  mercies,  bring  down  the  curse  of 
Heaven,  ii.  613. 

Abuses,  often  exhibited  in  the  pulpit,  ii. 
326. 

Academical  study,  its  great  end,  ii.  242. 

Academies  and  schools,  less  costly  than 
prisons,  i.  502. 

Accidency,  in  the  presidential  chair,  iii. 
348. 

Accountability  to  God,  the  nature  of,  ii.  61 9. 

Achax,  the  type  of  uncharitableness  in 
the  church,  ii.  371. 

Achievements ,  of  the  Americans,  i.  581. 


Acts ,  external,  cannot  secure  the  Divine 
favour,  iii.  482,  483. 

Adair  and  Boudinot,  on  the  American 
Indians,  iii.  185. 

Adam,  a  teacher,  trained  in  the  university 
of  Heaven,  i.  505 ;  head  and  father  of 
his  race,  ii.  426;  representative  cha¬ 
racter  of,  500;  temporal  and  eternal 
consequences  of  his  fall,  604  ;  the  cause 
of  all  human  depravity,  687  ;  endowed 
with  speech  at  his  creation,  iii.  95 ;  not 
a  savage,  but  a  naturalist  or  zoologist, 
98;  his  first  sons,  one  a  farmer,  the 
other  a  shepherd,  98  ;  his  apostasy  did 
not  reduce  man  to  a  savage  state,  103; 
effects  of  his  fall  on  the  pursuits  and 
professions  of  men,  267 ;  the  first  farmer 
and  schoolmaster,  267  ;  a  mechanic  and 
gardener,  265. 

Adams,  John,  his  administration,  iii. 
342,  343. 

Addresses,  public,  of  Dr.  Lindsley,  i.  31 ; 
inaugural  address  at  Nashville,  i.  65, 
iii.  27;  baccalaureate  of  1826,  i.  121; 
baccalaureate  of  1827,  173;  bacca¬ 
laureate  of  1829,  209;  baccalaureate 
of  1831,  281;  baccalaureate  of  1832, 
331 ;  baccalaureate  of  1834,  361  ;  bac¬ 
calaureate  of  1838,  539;  address  on 
centennial  birthday  of  Washington, 
iii.  229  ;  incidents  of  its  delivery,  261; 
one  of  his  ablest  efforts,  262 ;  address 
to  farmers  and  mechanics,  265 ;  anni¬ 
versary  address  at  the  Bible  Society, 
459,  479;  before  the  Tennessee  State 
Temperance  Society,  505. 

Administration,  of  justice,  its  imperfec¬ 
tions,  i.  296  ;  of  the  Lord’s  Supper,  im¬ 
portance  of,  ii.  536. 

Admission  to  college,  defective  qualifica¬ 
tions  for,  i.  559-561. 

Advice,  to  parents,  i.  387. 

Advocates,  numerous  and  learned,  of 
man’s  original  savageism,  iii.  88. 

AH li ax,  quoted  on  the  American  abori¬ 
gines,  iii.  167. 

Affairs,  state  and  national,  should  be 
separate,  iii.  308. 

Afflictions  of  life,  their  use  and  end,  ii. 

457. 


675 


G76 


INDEX. 


Africa,  onco  united  to  America,  iii.  159, 
161 ;  the  slave-mart  and  slaughter¬ 
house  of  Christendom,  163. 

African  slave-trade,  denounced,  ii.  310; 
a  disgrace  to  Christendom,  311;  its 
enormity  once  tolerated  by  good  men, 
iii.  523. 

African  race,  its  advance  to  civilization 
in  America,  iii.  577,  578;  amalgama¬ 
tion  of,  undesirable  and  impossible, 
670. 

African  Republic,  of  Liberia,  counterpart 
of  the  United  States,  iii.  578. 

Africans,  their  condition  in  America,  iii. 
132,  580,  664. 

Age,  the  present,  developing  a  new  spirit, 
ii.  431 ;  what  it  owes  to  the  art  of  print¬ 
ing,  iii.  116;  of  Washington  the  classic 
era  of  our  history,  258. 

Aged,  avowals  of  the,  ii.  217  ;  best  judges 
of  the  value  of  life,  iii.  218,  219. 

Agency,  of  man,  in  his  regeneration,  ii. 
515. 

Agents,  speculating,  their  tricks  in  bank¬ 
ing,  iii.  367. 

Agriculture,  favourable  to  mental  culture, 

i.  124;  should  be  a  learned  profession, 
125 ;  implements  of,  used  by  the  ante¬ 
diluvians,  disprove  a  savage  state,  iii. 
99 ;  cannot  alone  make  a  nation  great, 
380 ;  to  be  profitable,  must  have  a 
market  for  its  products,  381-383. 

Albigenses,  referred  to,  iii.  430. 

Albinos,  prove  nothing  as  to  change  of 
race,  iii.  176. 

Alcohol,  poisonous  and  deleterious  nature 
of,  iii.  516. 

Alexander  the  Great,  to  be  admired 
and  pitied,  ii.  170. 

Alexandria,  in  Egypt,  example  of  speedy 
growth,  iii.  131. 

Alison,  the  historian,  referred  to,  i.  580. 

Alma  Mater,  scenes  and  associations  of, 
pleasant,  ii.  22S. 

Almighty  God,  the  searcher  of  hearts, 

ii.  640. 

Almsgiving,  not  a  decisive  test  of  charity, 
ii.  265;  does  not  constitute  the  whole 
of  religion,  364. 

Alphabetical  writing,  perfect  in  the  time 
of  Moses,  iii.  101. 

Alumni,  of  Nassau  Hall,  deceased,  re¬ 
ferred  to,  ii.  297  ;  of  the  University  of 
Nashville,  number  of,  in  1834,  i.  363; 
their  character  not  unworthy  of  their 
Alma  Mater,  391. 

Amalgamation,  influence  of,  on  the  va¬ 
rieties  of  mankind,  iii.  176;  of  black 
and  white  races  in  our  country  impos¬ 
sible,  670. 

Ambition,  true,  its  nature  and  ends,  i. 
178;  worldly,  often  exhibited  by  eccle¬ 
siastics,  ii.  277 ;  its  folly  and  fatal  re¬ 
sults,  278,  279. 

Amendments,  of  the  Federal  Constitution, 


always  in  the  power  of  the  people,  iii. 
319;  several,  suggested  by  Hr.  Linds- 
ley,  321,  344-349. 

America,  the  probable  abode  of  savages 
soon  after  the  deluge,  iii.  153;  how 
first  peopled,  154 ;  certainly  submerged 
by  the  flood,  154;  probably  referred  to 
by  Plato,  156,  157;  supposed  to  be  re¬ 
ferred  to  by  Moses  in  the  book  of  Ge¬ 
nesis,  160;  peopled  from  Africa  by  de¬ 
scendants  of  Ham,  161;  her  successful 
example  of  free  government  appealed 
to  in  other  nations,  239  ;  how  she  ought 
to  treat  England  on  tariff  matters,  383; 
too  dependent  on  England  for  manu¬ 
factures,  384;  stigmatized  as  the  land 
of  drunkards,  508. 

American  Amazons,  an  offset  to  ancient 
fables,  iii.  168. 

American  Bible  Society,  origin  and  ob¬ 
jects  of,  iii.  465;  its  deep  interest  in 
our  Western  country,  466;  its  noble 
resolutions  in  1829,  499. 

American  Churches,  their  unhappy  divi¬ 
sions,  iii.  208. 

American  Cities,  their  sudden  growth,  iii. 
131. 

American  Clergy,  vindication  of,  as  en¬ 
lightened  and  faithful,  i.  326. 

American  Colleges,  might  learn  something 
from  abroad,  i.  99 ;  funds  and  endow¬ 
ments  of  various,  21G;  adapted  to  the 
people,  405 ;  well  suited  for  boys  from 
fifteen  to  twenty-one,  405  :  their  resem¬ 
blance  to  German  gymnasia,  405. 

American  Colonization  Society,  objects  to 
be  accomplished  by,  iii.  563 ;  inade¬ 
quate  to  remove  the  whole  African 
race,  668,  670. 

American  Common  Schools,  three  parties 
on,  i.  648. 

American  Democracy,  article  on,  in  five 
parts,  iii.  265,  317,  354,  376,  394. 

American  Episcopacy,  not  inclined  to 
Erastianism,  iii.  420. 

American  Equality,  a  source  of  wit  and 
satire  to  the  English,  iii.  498. 

American  Experiment,  the  separation  of 
Church  and  State,  iii.  498. 

American  Forefathers,  never  in  bondage, 
i.  454;  their  spirit  and  aims,  586; 
what  they  owed  to  the  Bible,  iii.  665. 

American  Government,  excellence  of,  as 
left  by  our  fathers,  iii.  329. 

American  History,  its  classic  age  that  of 
Washington,  iii.  258. 

American  Indians,  still  as  savage  as  when 
first  discovered,  iii.  116;  their  loss  of 
the  useful  arts,  119;  probably  de¬ 
scended  from  Ham,  128;  must  be 
traced  to  a  high  antiquity,  155;  pro¬ 
bably  as  old  as  any  other  variety  of 
the  race,  175;  supposed  to  be  descend¬ 
ants  of  the  Malays  of  Southern  Asia, 
186. 


INDEX. 


677 


American  Institutions,  the  growth  of  two 
centuries,  iii.  245;  founded  on  the  Bible, 
529. 

American  Liberty ,  how  it  may  be  lost,  iii. 
257. 

American  Literature,  yet  to  be  created,  i. 
355 ;  its  high  and  sacred  mission,  356. 

American  Methodism,  the  episcopal  cha¬ 
racter  of,  iii.  429. 

American  Name,  true  glory  of,  i.  352  ; 
right  of  the  citizens  of  the  United 
States  to,  580;  honoured  abroad,  587; 
compared  to  that  of  the  old  Roman,  588. 

American  National  University,  the  project 
for,  i.  407  ;  every  thing  that  man  can 
know  should  be  taught  in,  408. 

American  Patriotism,  contrasted  with  that 
of  Rome,  i.  354:  its  wide  field  and 
glorious  mission,  355. 

American  People,  their  great  responsi¬ 
bilities,  i.  355  ;  radically  changed  since 
1776,  466;  defective  education  of,  467; 
moral  character  of,  468. 

American  Policy,  administrative,  should 
be  uniform,  iii.  346 ;  should  encourage 
manufactures,  384. 

American  Politician,  what  he  ought  to 
be,  i.  288. 

American  Presbyterian  Church,  its  first 
theological  seminary,  ii.  81 ;  should 
have  more  missionary  zeal,  435. 

American  Republic,  has  no  parallel  in 
history,  i.  584,  585. 

American  Revolution,  the  leaders  of,  i. 
140 ;  the  mainspring  of  all  subsequent 
ones,  iii.  239;  why  the  only  successful 
one,  240 :  a  war  of  principle,  247 ;  the 
great  interests  staked  on,  247 ;  tremen¬ 
dous  responsibility  of  its  leaders  and 
inequality  of  the  contest,  248 ;  favored 
of  heaven,  and  thus  successful,  249; 
benefits  and  privileges  secured  by,  252  ; 
not  a  war  against  monarchy,  406. 

American  Sages,  their  views  of  the  need 
of  public  education  in  our  country,  i. 
485. 

American  Savages ,  their  destiny  similar 
to  that  of  all  Ham’s  descendants,  iii. 
163 ;  apparently  doomed  to  extinction, 
164. 

American  System,  an  experiment  for  the 
world,  i.  199. 

American  Temperance  Society,  when  found¬ 
ed,  iii.  510. 

American  Union,  necessity  of  its  preser¬ 
vation,  i.  354;  possibility  of  its  dissolu¬ 
tion,  iii.  255. 

American  Universities,  inferiority  of,  com¬ 
pared  with  those  of  Europe,  i.  404. 

American  Youth,  enter  college  too  early, 

i.  386,  mostly  spoiled  at  home,  387. 

Americans,  their  fondness  for  honorary 
titles  contemptible,  i.  214;  generally 
acquainted  with  the  Bible,  313 ;  not  an 
ambitious  people,  585  ;  honoured  every¬ 


where  for  their  country,  587 ;  should 
study  the  Farewell  Address  of  Washing¬ 
ton,  iii.  230 ;  worthy  of  their  English 
sires,  231;  their  fathers  never  the  slaves 
of  Great  Britain,  311 ;  not  always  noted 
for  personal  independence,  312;  gov¬ 
erned  too  much  by  partisan  public 
opinion,  313;  distinguished  as  spitting 
animals,  623. 

Amherst  College,  funds  of,  i.  158. 

Amor  Patrice,  a  useful  prejudice,  iii.  193. 

Amusements  for  the  poor  in  cities,  fraught 
with  vice  and  folly,  iii.  599. 

Analogies,  between  nature  and  revelation, 

ii.  641 ;  in  reasoning,  often  deceptive 
and  fallacious,  iii.  82. 

Ananias  and  Sapphira,  sad  case  of  am¬ 
bition  and  avarice,  iii.  482. 

Anathema,  against  churches,  repugnant 
to  Presbyterians,  iii.  452. 

Ancient  Architecture,  not  the  work  of 
savage  nations,  iii.  136. 

Ancient  Egyptians,  not  inferior  to  modern 
Europeans,  iii.  148. 

Ancient  Genius,  monuments  of,  bear  wit¬ 
ness  to  its  greatness,  iii.  105. 

Ancient  Nations,  superiority  of,  in  litera¬ 
ture  and  the  arts,  ii.  419;  inferiority 
of,  in  moral  science,  420. 

Ancient  Philosophy,  held  to  a  primeval 
savage  state,  iii.  88. 

Ancient  Schools,  compared  with  modern 
colleges,  i.  91. 

Andover,  theological  seminary  at,  i.  87. 

Anecdote,  on  the  delivery  of  Dr.  Linds- 
ley’s  centennial  address,  iii.  261;  tem¬ 
perance,  of  the  Bishop  of  London, 
617. 

Angels,  of  the  Seven  Churches,  were  pas¬ 
tors  or  chief  presbyters,  iii.  409. 

Anglican  Church,  purely  Erastian  in  gov¬ 
ernment,  iii.  420. 

Anglo-Americans,  their  share  in  the  glory 
of  England,  iii.  230. 

Anglo- Malthusi  an  Theory,  nonsense  to 
Americans,  iii.  381. 

Animals,  created  in  a  state  of  perfect  ma¬ 
turity,  iii.  98. 

Annals  of  the  American  Pulpit,  article 
from,  on  Dr.  Smith,  iii.  652. 

Annihilation  of  money,  in  the  use  of 
strong  drink,  iii.  523,  524. 

Anniversary  Commencements,  of  the  Uni¬ 
versity  of  Nashville,  i.  375;  in  the 
Eastern  colleges,  427. 

Annual  Consumption  of  distilled  liquors, 
enormous,  iii.  524. 

Antediluvians,  attainments  of,  in  art  and 
science,  i.  67  ;  their  high  stage  of  civili¬ 
zation,  iii.  100,  112. 

Ante- Revolutionary  Annals,  illustrious 
names  in  the  American,  iii.  231. 

Antichrist,  spirit  of,  in  the  apostolic  times, 

iii.  405  ;  policy  of,  in  the  modern  church, 
ii.  316,  317. 


078 


INDEX. 


Antichristian  Hierarchy, origin  and  growth 
of,  in  the  Middle  Ages,  iii.  203. 

Antiquaries,  European,  their  researches 
at  Babylon,  iii.  107;  discoveries  in 
Egypt,  147. 

Antiquities  of  America,  inquiry  into,  by 
Delafield,  iii.  162. 

Antiquity,  its  claims  to  superiority  over 
modern  times,  slowly  admitted,  iii. 
105. 

Antoninus  and  Plato,  unable  to  discover 
Divine  truth,  ii.  423. 

Apostasy,  of  our  first  parents,  its  fearful 
consequences,  ii.  499,  iii.  103. 

Apostate  Condition ,  of  man,  by  nature,  ii. 
389. 

Apostles  of  Christ,  their  official  pre-emi¬ 
nence,  iii.  409,  446;  had  no  successors 
in  office,  409,  411;  their  number,  409; 
gave  no  direction  about  the  succession, 
411 ;  extent  and  success  of  their  labours, 
520,  ii.  611. 

Apostolical  Succession,  prelatic  claims  of, 
iii.  410;  not  held  by  Hooker  in  the 
recent  Puseyite  sense,  412. 

Apostolic  Church,  changes  of,  in  the  life¬ 
time  of  the  apostles,  iii.  428. 

Apostrophe,  to  the  dead  of  Nassau  Hall, 

ii.  229. 

Apparatus,  necessary  for  a  university,  i. 
401. 

Appeal  to  Christians  at  Nashville,  in  be¬ 
half  of  the  Bible  cause,  iii.  502. 

Arbitrary  Power,  not  needed  in  the  tem¬ 
perance  cause,  iii.  529. 

Arch,  not  unknown  to  the  Egyptians,  as 
once  thought,  iii.  184. 

Archeology,  Dr.  Lindsley’s  lectures  on, 

iii.  28. 

Archangel,  fallen,  ii.  195. 

Archbishops  Sumner  and  Tenison,  their 
opinions  of  Presbyterian  divines,  iii. 
411,  412. 

Archbishops,  origin  of  their  titles  and 
powers,  iii.  418. 

Archives,  lost,  of  ancient  civilized  nations, 

i.  126. 

Ardent  Spirits,  must  be  proscribed,  i.  184; 
extensive  use  of,  in  former  days,  iii. 
508;  moderate  use  of,  the  cause  of  in¬ 
temperance,  510  ;  poisonous  nature  of, 
516;  diseases  produced  by,  518;  no 
protection  to  the  human  system,  519; 
not  the  grand  elixir  of  life,  as  once 
supposed,  519 ;  not  to  be  defended  as  a 
beverage  on  scriptural  grounds,  531  ; 
not  needed  by  any  class  of  labouring 
men,  526 ;  held  by  the  Quakers  to  be 
an  unlawful  article  of  commerce,  539. 

Arguments,  from  the  infinite,  unsafe,  ii. 
691  ;  from  reason,  for  the  primeval 
civilization  of  man,  iii.  84 ;  from  Scrip¬ 
ture,  against  an  original  savage  state, 
97,  112;  fallacious,  on  church  govern¬ 
ment,  404.  405 ;  against  modern  high- 


church  prelacy,  417 ;  ludicrous,  on  po¬ 
litical  economy,  649. 

Argumentum  ad  absurdum,  on  religious 
prejudices,  iii.  205. 

Arian  and  Socinian  heresies,  origin  of,  ii. 
695. 

Aristocracy,  domination  of,  in  the  Grecian 
and  Roman  democracies,  iii.  468 ;  in¬ 
dications  of,  in  our  country  before  the 
Revolution,  252;  of  virtue  and  talent, 
281;  spiritual,  in  Episcopal  church, 
429. 

Aristocrats,  upstart,  described,  iii.  279. 

Aristotle  and  Plato,  groped  in  dark¬ 
ness,  as  to  moral  truth,  ii.  420 ;  influ¬ 
ence  of  their  philosophical  systems  on 
the  gospel,  iii.  201. 

Ark,  of  Noah,  a  triumph  of  architectural 
skill,  iii.  104. 

Armies,  mentioned  in  Scripture,  great  size 
of,  iii.  180. 

Arminius,  James,  writings  of,  ii.  348; 
held  the  doctrine  of  justification  by 
faith,  348. 

Army,  of  the  law,  need  of  reform  in,  i. 
294;  of  Christian  heroes  and  martyrs, 

ii.  137. 

Arnold,  Benedict,  cause  of  his  downfall, 
i.  201;  our  country  has  produced  but 
one,  iii.  261. 

Art,  human,  monuments  of,  i.  67;  of 
printing,  influence  on  the  progress  of 
man,  71;  of  reading,  its  difficulty,  512; 
of  writing,  not  unknown  to  the  antedi¬ 
luvians,  iii.  101;  state  of,  in  Noah’s 
time,  how  ascertained,  103. 

Arts  and  Sciences,  of  the  antediluvians, 
disprove  an  original  savage  state,  iii.  99. 

Articles,  Dr.  Lindsley’s,  in  the  American 
Biblical  Repository,  iii.  81,  112,  153, 
191 ;  many  contributed  to  the  Nashville 
newspapers,  602. 

Articles  on  which  a  tariff  should  be  laid, 

iii.  378. 

Artifices,  of  hypocrites,  ii.  272. 

Ascham,  Bacon,  Locke,  and  other  writers 
on  education,  i.  522. 

Asia,  probably  once  united  to  America 
by  land,  iii.  172. 

Asiatic  Civilization,  different  from  Eu¬ 
ropean,  iii.  135. 

Asiatic  Hamites,  none  of  them  negroes, 
iii.  164. 

Assassination,  less  horrible  than  the  doom 
of  the  drunkard,  iii.  536. 

Assembly,  of  divines,  at  Westminster,  in 
1643;  its  labours,  iii.  431,  432. 

Associations,  for  mental  improvement  in 
England,  i.  123;  necessary  for  man, 
iii.  512;  temperance,  good  achieved  by, 
527. 

Astor,  William  B.,  referred  to,  iii.  597. 

Astronomy,  known  before  the  Deluge,  iii. 
105;  true  science  of,  understood  at  an 
early  date  in  Egypt,  143. 


INDEX. 


GT9 


Assyrians,  like  Egyptians  and  Phoeni¬ 
cians,  known  in  history  only  as  a  civil¬ 
ized  people,  iii.  125. 

Atheism ,  its  reign  over  men  at  an  end,  i. 
167  ;  too  difficult  to  be  believed  by  the 
multitude,  ii.  440 ;  not  proved  by  the 
eternity  of  matter,  694 ;  result  of  its 
reign  in  France,  iii.  194. 

Atheists,  a  nation  of,  described,  ii.  109. 

Athenians,  their  titles  of  nativity,  iii.  121. 

Atlantic  Ocean,  origin  of  the  name  traced 
to  the  lost  island  of  Atlantis  in  Plato, 
iii.  156,  157. 

Atonement  for  sin,  secured  in  Christ,  ii. 
605  ;  all-sufficiency  of,  692 ;  finished  on 
Calvary,  iii.  488. 

Attendance  on  the  sanctuary,  perversions 
of,  ii.  102. 

Augustine,  St.,  referred  to,  ii.  46 ;  held 
the  system  of  doctrine  afterwards  held 
by  Calvin,  349. 

Austerity,  in  the  observance  of  the  Sab¬ 
bath,  condemned,  ii.  96. 

Austria,  public-school  system  of,  i.  240, 
481,  482. 

Authentic  History,  none  against  a  prime¬ 
val  civilization,  iii.  125. 

Authority,  in  the  English  church,  as  de¬ 
fined  by  Hooker,  iii.  413. 

Authorities,  adduced,  on  the  primitive 
state  of  man,  iii.  88. 

Author  of  the  great  salvation,  ii.  606. 

Authors  of  systems,  always  labour  under 
prejudice,  iii.  216. 

Auto-da-fe,  the  spirit  of,  still  among  men, 
ii.  315. 

Ayers,  Elias  and  Mary  Ann,  referred 
to,  i.  14;  iii.  52. 

B 

Babel,  tower  of,  its  fate  uncertain,  iii.  107; 
opinions  as  to  its  object,  108. 

Babylon,  its  ancient  site  unknown,  iii. 
107;  its  founder  and  glory,  129;  its 
vast  population,  ISO. 

Babylonians,  never  described  as  barba¬ 
rians,  iii.  125. 

Baccalaureate  Addresses,  Dr.  Lindsley’s, 
of  1826,  i.  121;  of  1827,  173;  of  1829, 
209;  of  1831,  281;  of  1832,  331;  of 
1834,  361  ;  of  1838,  539. 

Bacon,  Lord,  remark  of,  i.  264;  great, 
like  Burke,  Selden,  and  others,  from 
laborious  study,  ii.  178;  his  remark  on 
revolutions,  iii.  299. 

Bad  habits  indulged  in  at  church,  iii. 
621. 

Bad  men,  not  kept  even  from  the  apos¬ 
tolic  church,  iii.  404. 

Baillie,  Robert,  in  the  Westminster 
Assembly,  iii.  432. 

Baird,  Dr.  Robert,  letter  of,  respecting 
Dr.  Lindsley,  iii.  20. 

Balls,  public,  injurious  effects  of,  iii.  599.  ! 


Bancroft,  George,  his  opinion  on  the 
peopling  of  America,  iii.  119. 

Bancroft,  Dr.,  his  jure  divino  doctrine 
of  prelacy,  iii.  414;  its  effects  when 
first  published,  415. 

Banishment,  of  criminals,  i.  248. 

Bank,  of  England,  the  first  on  the  modern 
plan,  iii.  546 ;  the  first  established  in 
America,  546 ;  of  Venice,  when  esta¬ 
blished,  546  ;  the  best  form  of  a  national, 
368,  369 ;  constitutionality  of  a  United 
States,  335,  336 ;  pronounced  constitu¬ 
tional  by  the  Supreme  Court,  337 ;  ne¬ 
cessity  or  expediency  of,  338. 

Bankers,  private,  in  Europe,  always  man¬ 
age  well,  iii.  363. 

Banking,  the  evils  of  an  injudicious  sys¬ 
tem,  i.  292 ;  should  be  left  free  to  indi¬ 
viduals,  iii.  353  ;  by  States,  on  borrowed 
capital,  disastrous,  359 ;  the  true  secret 
of  every  sound  system  of,  363 ;  when 
judicious  and  well  managed,  a  blessing, 
360 ;  the  evils  of  the  existing  system 
incurable,  361-366 ;  the  Scottish  sys¬ 
tem  of,  363,  364;  cost  of  the  system  in 
the  United  States,  586;  injustice  and 
absurdity  of,  588. 

Banks,  why  without  credit,  iii.  360  ;  their 
stockholders  imposed  upon,  362,  367; 
general  suspension  of,  in  1837  and 
1839,  363 :  by  what  classes  gotten  up, 
367;  different  kinds  of,  368;  responsi¬ 
bility  of  their  officers,  366  ;  number  and 
expense  of,  in  our  country,  374;  all 
fail,  sooner  or  later,  363 ;  unwise  man¬ 
agement  of,  in  our  country,  551;  add 
nothing  to  wealth  or  capital,  586 ;  poor 
widows  and  children,  the  sufferers  by, 
587 ;  general  estimate  of,  as  an  inven¬ 
tion  of  civilized  society,  552. 

Banks,  state  and  stock,  not  desirable,  iii. 
338;  cannot  create  money,  359;  wis¬ 
dom  and  expediency  of,  doubtful,  352, 
353  ;  free,  or  state  stock,  article  on,  584. 

Banks  of  Scotland,  the  best  in  the  world, 
iii.  552 ;  characteristics  of  the  system, 
546. 

Banks  and  Brokers,  fragmentary  thoughts 
on,  iii.  545. 

Bank  Corporation,  defined  from  existing 
facts,  iii.  363. 

ank  Directors,  duties  and  responsibili¬ 
ties  of,  iii.  548. 

Bank  Failures,  almost  unknown  in  Scot¬ 
land,  iii.  364. 

ank  Notes,  useless  without  a.  specie 
basis,  iii.  360,  365  ;  should  always  be 
the  actual  representatives  of  gold  and 
silver,  367. 

Bankrupt  Laic,  of  1841,  iii.  320. 

Bankruptcy  of  our  country  in  1842,  iii. 
355. 

Baptism,  one  of  the  only  two  sacraments 
of  Protestants,  ii.  339 ;  controversy 
concerning,  340 ;  endless  disputations 


680 


INDEX. 


on,  iii.  208;  the  nature  of  the  ordinance 
of,  402. 

Barbarians,  use  of  the  term  by  the  Greeks 
and  Romans,  iii.  123. 

Barbarians,  of  Gaul  and  Britain,  preached 
to  by  the  apostles,  ii.  611. 

Barbarism,  no  return  to,  during  the  last 
hundred  years,  iii.  237. 

Barbarous  Tribes,  the  only  method  of 
civilizing,  iii.  117. 

Barnard,  Dr.  Henry,  his  American 
Journal  of  Education,  i.  11. 

Baxter  and  Fuller,  examples  of  self- 
taught  men,  i.  445. 

Beattie,  Dr.,  quotation  from  his  “  Theory 
of  Language,”  iii.  93 ;  views  of,  on  re¬ 
ligious  prejudices,  219. 

Bell,  Governor,  of  New  Hampshire, 
quoted  on  schools,  i.  473. 

Beggar  General,  of  the  University  of  Nash¬ 
ville,  i.  430. 

Beggar  on  horseback,  article  on,  iii.  280. 

Belief  in  Jesus  as  Messiah,  the  test  of 
primitive  discipleship,  iii.  428. 

Belief  in  testimony,  natural  to  man,  ii. 
676-679;  requires  understanding,  673 ; 
influence  of  early  education  on,  222; 
against  the  evidence  of  sense,  illustra¬ 
tion  of,  668 ;  fixes  on  facts,  and  not 
their  causes  or  modes  of  existence,  669. 

Belief  in  a  primeval  savage  state,  ac¬ 
counted  for,  iii.  122. 
elievers  in  Christ,  future  joys  in  store 
for,  ii.  605. 

elievers  and  Non-believers,  all  men  di¬ 
vided  into,  ii.  603. 

Bench,  of  judges,  separate,  proposed  for 
the  Presbyterian  church,  iii.  442,  443. 

Benefits  of  Christ’s  death  to  believers,  ii. 
604,  605. 

Benevolence,  contrasted  with  ambition,  i. 
178. 

Benevolent  Societies,  claims  of,  on  the 
rich,  ii.  38. 

Bengelius,  quoted  on  the  division  of  the 
earth,  iii.  160. 

Berlin,  Faculty  of  its  University,  i.  403 ; 
education  in,  239. 

Best  System  of  Education,  that  which  se¬ 
cures  the  constant  employment  of  the 
young,  i.  92. 

Bible ,  the  noblest  text-book  of  education, 
i.  50,  93  ;  should  be  a  daily  companion 
of  all,  94;  ignorance  of,  the  source  of 
error,  166 ;  the  source  of  all  true  wis¬ 
dom  for  young  men,  166;  recommended 
to  college  graduates,  206;  the  written 
constitution  of  Christianity,  323 ;  only 
reformer  of  veteran  criminals,  251 ; 
better  understood  in  America  than  in 
other  countries,  313;  the  study  of,  ad¬ 
vocated,  274;  the  only  source  of  Chris¬ 
tian  truth,  306;  the  true  power  of,  312; 
should  be  freely  circulated,  324;  com¬ 
mended  as  the  guide  of  youth,  546  ;  its 


careful  study  enjoined,  347-349  :  tends 
to  foster  patriotism,  550  ;  the  neglect 
of,  fashionable,  167  ;  practical  influence 
of,  on  the  young,  ii.  17  ;  the  only  source 
of  true  wisdom,  188;  an  interpreter  of 
man’s  character,  244;  teaches  a  know¬ 
ledge  of  the  world,  244;  used  as  a  class- 
book  in  Nassau  Hall,  245;  heaven’s 
richest  treasure  to  man,  246 ;  exhorta¬ 
tion  to  the  study  of,  292-294;  the 
Christian’s  supreme  standard  of  faith 
and  practice,  341,  342;  the  true  divine 
teacher,  449;  must  be  read  as  a  means 
of  salvation,  620  ;  comprises  a  complete 
system  of  truth,  644;  adapted  to  man 
as  he  is,  663  ;  does  not  demand  a  blind 
faith,  665,  679;  canonical  portions  of, 
how  determined,  666;  question  of  its 
inspiration,  672  ;  its  teachings  must  be 
believed,  678;  addressed  to  man  as  a 
free  moral  agent,  679 ;  requires  no  be¬ 
lief  in  impossibilities,  681 ;  how  it  ap¬ 
peals  to  conscience,  681 ;  its  doctrines, 
how  treated,  686 ;  its  own  best  inter¬ 
preter,  697 ;  its  attributes,  698 ;  our 
only  reliable  historic  guide  anterior  to 
Herodotus,  iii.  127;  its  statements  as 
to  the  earth's  population,  182;  not  re¬ 
sponsible  for  the  conflicting  dogmas 
drawn  from  it,  198 ;  in  what  sense 
hard  to  be  understood,  205 ;  proper 
study  of,  tends  to  agreement  on  doc¬ 
trines,  206;  its  great  teacher,  God  him¬ 
self,  220  ;  full  of  lessons  on  the  subject 
of  government,  400 ;  authoritative  guide 
for  the  church,  402 ;  supreme  authority 
with  Presbyterians,  433;  paramount 
rule  of  action  to  all  Christians,  451 ; 
necessity  of  circulating,  an  address, 
459 ;  withheld  from  the  people  in  past 
ages,  460;  translated  into  one  hundred 
and  fifty  languages,  464;  the  true 
friend  of  liberty,  467,  469 ;  source  of 
liberty  in  all  Protestant  Europe,  469 ; 
charter  of  liberty  to  the  American  fore¬ 
fathers,  469 ;  cause  of  difference  between 
British  and  other  colonists,  470;  its 
enemies  the  enemies  of  human  liberty, 
470;  excellence  of  its  moral  code  never 
questioned,  472 ;  vast  body  of  the  hu¬ 
man  family  still  ignorant  of,  473  :  duty 
of  circulating  it,  a  part  of  religion, 
474,  480;  its  claims  vindicated,  479; 
its  benefits  to  the  world,  4S1  ;  not 
chargeable  with  the  errors  of  its  friends, 
482;  what  it  reveals  of  God  and  man, 
482 ;  would  make  earth  an  Eden,  if 
obeyed,  483 ;  source  of  all  true  moral 
reforms  among  men,  483  ;  its  transform¬ 
ing  power  on  the  wicked,  484;  its  in¬ 
fluence  essential  to  the  peace  of  society, 
485 ;  supplies  the  deficiency  of  human 
laws,  488 ;  its  consolations  for  the  af¬ 
flicted,  489;  exalts  the  female  sex  to 
j  their  proper  rank,  490 ;  effects  on  war 


INDEX. 


G81 


and  kindred  evils,  491 ;  cheapest  rem¬ 
edy  for  the  evils  of  society,  492 ;  its 
influence  on  priests  and  politicians, 
492;  its  priceless  value,  501;  influence 
on  slavery,  665;  guaranties  freedom, 
civil  and  political,  to  every  human 
being,  664,  670,  672. 

Bibles,  scarcity  of,  in  1825,  iii.  466 ;  defi¬ 
ciency  of,  still,  in  Christian  nations,  474. 

Bible  Society,  the  American,  when  founded, 
iii.  465 ;  a  strong  bond  of  union  among 
Protestant  Christians,  501. 

Bible  Societies,  number  of,  iii.  465 ;  al¬ 
leged  expensiveness  of,  491;  calumnies 
against,  498;  blessed  work  of,  defended, 
499. 

Biblical  Archseology,  Dr.  Lindsley,  pro¬ 
fessor  of,  iii.  399. 

Bigotry,  pervades  the  Christian  church, 
ii.  314s 

Bigots,  cannot  be  Christians,  ii.  681; 
more  injurious  to  Christianity  than  in¬ 
fidels,  iii.  309. 

Bigots  and  Persecutors,  their  claim  to 
charity,  iii.  213. 

Bills  of  credit,  prohibited  to  the  States 
by  the  Constitution,  iii.  365. 

Biography  of  Dr.  Lindsley,  iii.  9. 

B irminghams  and  Manchesters,  needed  in 
Tennessee,  iii.  384. 

i shops ,  import  of  the  term  in  the  early 
ages,  iii.  429. 

Bishops ,  European  and  American,  how 
created,  iii.  419 ;  their  claim  to  exclusive 
ordination,  419;  Roman  Catholic,  their 
oath  of  allegiance  to  the  Pope,  425  ; 
of  the  Methodist  Church,  their  power, 
429 ;  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  their 
power,  429  ;  Presbyterian,  their  duties, 
449  ;  how  successors  of  the  apostles,  450. 

Bishops  and  Presbyters,  of  the  New  Tes¬ 
tament,  parochial  and  not  diocesan,  iii. 
409,  417;  very  numerous  in  the  early 
church,  410. 

Black  Jews,  of  India,  their  case  con¬ 
sidered,  iii.  176. 

Black  Skin,  a  characteristic  of  man  from 
the  earliest  ages,  iii.  174. 

Blacicstone,  Sir  William,  quoted  on 
religious  toleration,  iii.  211. 

Blair,  Dr.  Hugh,  quoted  on  man’s 
primeval  state,  iii.  97 ;  on  the  forma¬ 
tion  of  opinions,  221. 

Blessings ,  of  the  great  salvation,  described, 

ii.  604;  of  the  gospel,  must  be  diffused, 

iii.  479 ;  of  temperance,  513. 

Blood  of  Christ,  an  atonement  for  sin,  ii. 
605;  the  price  of  salvation,  606. 

Blumenbacii,  his  opinion  of  the  Esqui¬ 
maux,  iii.  165. 

Board  of  Trustees  of  the  University  of 
Nashville,  honoured  names  of,  i.  376; 
removals  by  death  from,  594 ;  letter  of, 
respecting  Dr.  Troost,  639  ;  their  action 
at  the  death  of  Dr.  Lindsley,  71. 


Board  of  Directors  of  the  New  Albany 
Seminary,  iii.  399. 

Bochart  and  Bryant,  cited  on  the  origin 
of  Nineveh,  iii.  129. 

Bodily  Exercise,  the  benefits  of,  i.  91. 

Bolingbroke,  Lord,  his  tribute  to  the 
moral  excellence  of  the  gospel,  iii.  472. 

Books,  a  source  of  enjoyment,  i.  84. 

Boon  of  English  prowess  and  chivalry, 
Americans’  share  in,  iii.  231. 

Borrowers  and  Lenders  of  money,  alike 
honourable,  iii.  548. 

Borrowing  of  banking  capital,  wretched 
policy,  iii.  359. 

Bounties  in  favour  of  home  products,  ob¬ 
jectionable,  iii.  388-390;  discontinued 
in  England,  389 ;  wheat-growers  pro¬ 
tected  by,  in  Massachusetts,  389 ;  silk- 
growers,  in  Tennessee,  389;  can  never 
sustain  the  silk  business,  390. 

Bowditcii,  Nathaniel,  and  other  emi¬ 
nent  men  of  science,  iii.  116. 

Boiven,  George  T.,  professor  in  the  Uni¬ 
versity  of  Nashville,  i.  595. 

Boys,  at  school  and  college,  should  not 
have  much  money,  i.  391 ;  why  they  do 
not  learn,  558. 

Brainerd  and  Wiiitefield,  model  mis¬ 
sionaries,  ii.  73. 

Branch,  of  a  national  bank,  iii.  369. 

Breckinridge,  Dr.  John,  referred  to, 
iii.  21. 

Brevity  of  Life,  its  lessons,  ii.  183. 

Brewster.  Elder,  in  the  Mayflower,  iii. 
439. 

Brewster,  Sir  David,  his  opinion  of 
Calvinism,  ii.  358. 

Bright  Side  of  human  history,  iii.  236. 

Brighter  Day,  its  dawn  anticipated,  iii. 
456. 

Britain,  island  of,  visited  by  the  primitive 
preachers,  ii.  611. 

British,  in  China,  iii.  299. 

British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  when 
formed,  iii.  463;  progress  and  results 
of,  464. 

British  Domination,  resisted  from  the  first 
by  America,  iii.  244. 

British  legislation,  objects  of,  towards 
American  colonists,  iii.  233. 

British  Ministry,  strange  mistake  of,  in 
the  American  war,  iii.  245. 

British  Press,  its  tone  towards  Americans, 
i.  580. 

Brown,  Dr.  Isaac  V.,  letters  of,  respect¬ 
ing  Dr.  Lindsley,  iii.  18,  48. 

Brown’s  History  of  Missions,  quoted,  ii. 
434. 

Brownists,  the  name  of  a  party  of  Inde¬ 
pendents,  iii.  431. 

Brougham  and  Bentiiam,  their  labours 
on  the  law,  i.  223. 

Bryant,  his  opinion  on  the  peopling  of 
the  earth,  iii.  128 ;  on  the  ancient 
Egyptians,  146. 


682 


INDEX. 


Brute  Creation,  entitled  to  the  Sabbath 
of  rest,  ii.  90. 

Bucer,  Beza,  and  other  Reformers, 
agreed  with  Calvin  about  the  case  of 
Servetus,  ii.  350. 

Buckland,  the  geologist,  quoted,  i.  630. 

Builders,  of  Babel,  a  civilized  people,  iii. 
109,  113, *.of  Thebes  and  Tentyra,  not 
savages,  136 ;  of  Memphis,  Babylon, 
Tyre,  and  Carthage,  legitimate  Ham- 
ites,  166. 

Bunyan,  John,  like  many  others,  supplied 
the  defects  of  early  education  in  after¬ 
life,  i.  445 ;  referred  to,  iii.  396. 

Burke,  Edmund,  quoted  by  Matthew 
Carey  on  persecutions  in  Maryland,  ii. 
375;  remark  of,  on  wisdom,  iii.  557. 

Burnett,  James,  Lord  Monboddo,  his 
Origin  and  Progress  of  Language,  iii.  89. 

Burning  of  widows,  would  not  be  tole¬ 
rated  on  a  plea  of  conscience  in  our 
country,  iii.  426. 

Burns,  Robert,  quotation  from,  iii.  554; 
referred  to  as  the  poet  of  democracy,  270. 

Burr,  Aaron,  Memoirs  of,  iii.  333; 
might  have  been  President  contrary  to 
the  wishes  of  the  people,  348 ;  one  of 
the  earliest  leaders  of  democracy,  353. 

Buying,  a  fallacious  popular  dogma  about, 
iii.  381. 

Byron,  Lord,  quotation  from,  on  Wash¬ 
ington,  iii.  262. 

C 

Cabinet,  the  Presidential,  in  theory  end 
in  fact,  iii.  326 ;  need  not  always  be  a 
unit,  347. 

Cain,  the  first  city -builder,  could  not  have 
been  a  savage,  iii.  98. 

Calhoun,  John  C.,  his  opinion  contro¬ 
verted,  iii.  381. 

Calling  and  Election,  every  man’s,  to  be 
made  sure,  ii.  615. 

Calls  to  repentance,  numerous  and  ur¬ 
gent,  ii.  622. 

Calvary,  its  bleeding  victim  an  atonement 
for  sin,  iii.  488. 

Calvin,  John,  his  view  of  the  Eucharist, 
ii.  347  ;  his  treatment  of  Servetus,  350  ; 
his  great  error,  351 ;  referred  to,  iii.  430, 
435. 

Calvinism,  consistent  with  large  and  libe¬ 
ral  charity,  i.  53 ;  the  common  creed  of 
all  the  Reformers,  ii.  348;  system  of 
doctrine  denoted  by,  349 ;  its  high  an¬ 
tiquity,  349 ;  the  only  system  of  reli¬ 
gious  truth  a  philosopher  can  maintain, 
358;  Bishop  Horsley’s  opinion  of,  359; 
always  caricatured  by  its  enemies,  359. 

Calvinistic  System,  held  by  men  of  strong¬ 
est  intellect,  ii.  358. 

Calvinistic  Presbyterians  and  Puritans, 
founders  of  American  schools  and  col¬ 
leges,  iii.  434. 


Calvinists  and  Arminians,  their  protracted 
wars,  iii.  208. 

Campbell,  Dr.  George,  quoted  on  Chris¬ 
tian  charity,  iii.  210 ;  on  religious  dog¬ 
matism,  219. 

Candidates  for  admission  into  college, 
qualifications  of,  i.  101 ;  for  the  medical 
profession,  their  term  of  study  in  Eu¬ 
rope,  221 ;  for  the  ministry,  the  educa¬ 
tion  needed  by,  ii.  49 ;  for  political 
office,  described,  iii.  283 ;  for  State  offi¬ 
ces,  the  character  demanded  in,  310. 

Candour,  illustration  of  Dr.  Lindsley’s, 
iii.  536. 

Cannon  and  Carroll,  Governors, referred 
to,  i.  594. 

Canting  Demagogues,  art  and  hypocrisy 
of,  iii.  495. 

Capital,  cannot  be  created  by  a  govern¬ 
ment  bank,  iii.  359 ;  its  real  owner 
should  always  employ,  363  ;  amount  of, 
sunk  in  strong  drink,  524. 

Capitals  of  Europe,  all  have  their  univer¬ 
sities,  i.  258. 

Carey,  Matthew,  his  essay  and  eulo- 
gium,  ii.  374. 

Carnahan,  Dr.  James,  president  of  Nas¬ 
sau  Hall,  iii.  23. 

Carnal  and  Fleshly,  signification  of,  in 
Scripture,  ii.  566. 

Carolina,  how  regarded  as  a  name  for  all 
the  States,  iii.  385. 

Carthaqe,  ancient  commercial  grandeur 
of,  iii.  169. 

Carthaginians,  their  early  knowledge  of 
America,  iii.  171. 

Cartwright,  the  Puritan,  his  views  of 
church  government,  iii.  414. 

Catcott,  quotations  from,  respecting  the 
Atlantis  of  Plato,  iii.  156-158;  his 
work  on  the  Deluge,  in  the  library  of 
Nassau  Hall,  162. 

Catechism,  the  Shorter,  quoted,  ii.  687. 

Catiierwood  and  Stephens,  researches 
of,  iii.  166. 

Catholic  Church,  the  visible,  defined,  ii. 
329. 

Catholics,  early  history  of,  in  Maryland, 
ii.  375. 

Catholicity  of  the  temperance  cause,  iii. 
540. 

Catholic  Sentiments  of  Chillingworth,  iii. 

217. 

Catiline  and  Clodius,  ancient  dema¬ 
gogues,  iii.  496. 

Catilines,  modern  democratic,  how  they 
prevail,  iii.  299. 

Cato,  Cecil,  Colbert,  referred  to,  iii. 
326. 

Caucasian  and  other  races,  the  same  now 
as  at  the  beginning,  iii.  174;  never 
changes  to  the  negro  in  any  latitude, 

175. 

Cause  of  Education  in  Tennessee,  a  bac¬ 
calaureate  address,  i.  119,  129. 


INDEX. 


683 


Cause  and  Effect,  incomprehensible  nature 
of,  ii.  679. 

Cavilling,  against  colleges,  answered,  i. 
555 ;  against  Grod,  unreasonable  pre¬ 
texts  for,  ii.  388. 

Celebration  of  the  Lord’s  Supper,  prepa¬ 
ration  for  the,  ii.  535. 

Celestial  Charity,  influence  and  conquests 
of,  iii.  456. 

Censorious  Language  to  be  avoided  in 
discussions,  iii.  534. 

Centennial  Birthday  of  Washington,  Dr. 
Lindsley’s  address  on,  iii.  229. 

Central  School,  or  university,  desirable  in 
each  State,  i.  504. 

Central  America,  colossal  ruins  in,  not 
the  work  of  savages,  iii.  166. 

Century,  first  half,  of  American  independ¬ 
ence,  how  adorned,  iii.  231;  wonderful 
events  and  changes  of  the  eighteenth, 
235,  236. 

Centuries,  triumphs  of  the  cross  during 
the  first  three,  iii.  520. 

Cessation  from  labour  does  not  fulfil  the 
law  of  the  Sabbath,  ii.  93. 

Chaldea,  Assyria,  and  Egypt,  fountains 
of  civilization  to  all  other  nations,  iii. 

110,  113. 

Chalmers,  Dr.  Thomas,  views  of,  on  the 
education  of  the  poor,  iii.  601;  quota¬ 
tion  from,  i.  631. 

Champions,  of  Christianity,  their  charac¬ 
ter  in  the  Middle  Ages,  iii.  202;  of 
monarchy,  their  arguments  from  Scrip¬ 
ture,  ii.  335. 

Champollion,  Cuvier,  Hauy,  and  other 
great  names,  i.  446. 

Chancellor  of  the  University  of  Nashville, 

i.  29. 

Change  of  man’s  nature,  possible  only  to 
divine  agency,  ii.  514;  effected  under 
the  influence  of  the  gospel,  384. 

Change  of  opinion,  Dr.  Lindsley  ’s,  respect¬ 
ing  the  dispersion  at  Babel,  iii.  101. 

Changes,  physical  and  moral,  continually 
taking  place,  ii.  227;  partial,  not  to  be 
confounded  with  hereditary,  in  man,  iii. 
176;  in  church  polity,  easily  introduced, 
419;  for  the  worse,  in  the  Presbyterian 
system,  possible,  430. 

Character,  true  test  of,  iii.  283. 

Character  of  Washington,  in  public  and 
private  life,  iii.  249,  251 ;  its  influence 
on  the  world,  235,  258 ;  its  symmetry 
and  perfection,  259,  260. 

Charge  to  one  taking  the  ministerial  office, 

ii.  656;  to  those  who  hear  the  gospel, 
657. 

Charitable  man,  character  of,  how  formed, 

111.  196. 

Charity,  Christian,  spirit  of,  recommended, 
i.  202;  its  great  Bible  lessons,  324;  its 
nature  described,  ii.  264;  not  to  be 
measured  by  any  money  standard,  265; 
defined  and  exemplified  by  Paul,  266 ;  j 


essential  attribute  of  ministerial  cha¬ 
racter,  269;  beneficial  effects  of,  274; 
illustrated  in  the  apostolic  church,  330 ; 
imperfectly  understood  by  Christians, 
369 ;  pervading  attribute  of  our  reli¬ 
gion,  iii.  197  ;  the  scriptural  rule  for  all 
controversy,  210 ;  particular,  better  than 
general,  217;  its  measure  and  demands, 
224;  does  not  require  fellowship  with 
the  unworthy,  452,  453  ;  to  be  exercised 
towards  those  in  error,  532 ;  those  at 
our  doors  not  to  be  overlooked  by,  663. 

Charles  XII.  and  Louis  XIV.,  referred 
to,  ii.  256. 

Charter,  of  Bhode  Island  referred  to,  iii. 
293 ;  of  another  national  bank  not  de¬ 
sirable,  353 ;  of  banks,  whose  benefit 
secured  by,  361. 

Cheap  Government  secured  by  the  Ameri¬ 
can  Devolution,  iii.  254. 

Cheap  Labour  in  Europe  no  argument 
against  American  manufactures,  iii.  380. 

Cheap  Literature,  debasing  influence  of, 
at  the  present  day,  i.  647. 

Chemists,  their  views  of  the  nature  of  al¬ 
cohol,  iii.  516. 

Cheputchet,  the  hero  of,  iii.  353. 

Chicago  and  Danville,  seminaries  of,  re¬ 
ferred  to,  ii.  27. 

Chief  of  sinners  invited  to  Christ,  ii.  616. 

Child,  every  man’s,  ought  to  be  educated, 
i.  226. 

Childhood,  unquestioning  religious  belief 
of,  iii.  222  ;  left  to  itself,  degenerates,  i. 
70. 

Children,  how  their  first  lessons  are  ac¬ 
quired,  i.  129 ;  learn  much  in  infancy 
at  the  fireside,  130  ;  cruel  discomforts 
of,  at  school,  516 ;  all  in  the  State 
should  be  educated,  643 ;  all  must  and 
will  learn  some  religious  creed,  ii.  343; 
born  with  evil  propensities,  504 ;  docile 
credulity  of,  676;  of  savages,  how  civ¬ 
ilized,  iii.  117. 

Chilling  worth,  William,  quoted  on 
Christian  unity  and  charity,  iii.  217. 

China,  modern,  an  illustration  of  the 
populousness  of  the  ancient  world,  iii. 
183. 

Chinamen  of  modern  Christendom  de¬ 
scribed,  iii.  411. 

Chinese,  general  character  of,  iii.  183. 

Cholera,  visitation  of,  to  America,  i.  362. 

Christ,  the  atoning  sacrifice  for  sin,  ii. 
198;  the  centre  of  the  gospel  system, 
199;  his  estimate  of  worldly  riches, 
225 ;  purchased  a  great  salvation  for 
sinners,  ii.  604,  606:  satisfied  the  de¬ 
mands  of  law,  604;  how  he  saves  from 
sin  and  death,  605;  divinity  of,  denied 
by  descendants  of  the  Pilgrim  Fathers, 
613;  his  kingdom  not  of  this  world,  iii. 
401. 

Christendom,  almost  destitute  of  genuine 
Christianity,  ii.  80 ;  its  sins  of  oppres- 


684 


INDEX. 


sion  and  cruelty,  312,  313;  needs  to  be 
purified  and  converted,  371;  united  in 
the  Bible  Society,  iii.  463,  501 ;  people 
of,  have  more  liberty  than  Pagan,  469 ; 
not  yet  all  Christian,  481. 

Christian  Activity  needed  in  our  age  and 
country,  ii.  68. 

Christian  Benevolence,  the  nature  of,  ii. 
313. 

Christian  Character,  true  standard  of,  ii. 
322  ;  not  measured  by  nominal  Chris¬ 
tians,  iii.  481. 

Christian  Charity,  advocated  and  recom¬ 
mended,  i.  272,  320,  ii.  365;  the  power 
of,  ii.  270;  new  development  in  our 
age,  431;  universal  claims  of,  iii.  479, 
501 ;  inconsistency  of  its  professors,  663. 

Christian  Church,  has  some  unworthy 
ministers,  ii.  71 ;  needs  another  Lu¬ 
theran  reformation  in  charity,  369 ; 
duty  of  every,  433. 

Christian  Churches,  why  creeds  are  adopt¬ 
ed  by,  ii.  347  ;  how  they  should  treat 
each  other,  365 ;  danger  and  doom  of 
unfaithful,  612. 

Christian  Colonies,  effects  of,  ii.  313. 

Christian  Countries  take  the  place  once 
held  by  the  Jews,  ii.  603. 

Christian  Courage  needed,  ii.  327. 

Christian  Ethics,  improvement  in,  ii.  311. 

Christian  Fathers,  advocated  man’s  ori¬ 
ginal  savage  state,  iii.  88. 

Christian  Graces,  union  of,  ii.  598. 

Christian  Honesty,  ii.  322. 

Christian  Influence,  essential  in  all  teach¬ 
ers  of  youth,  ii.  507 

Christian  Ministry,  need  of  liberal  learn¬ 
ing  in,  ii.  41,  42;  can  be  perpetuated 
only  by  educating  men  for  it,  60. 

Christian  Missionaries  the  only  civilizers 
of  the  Indian  tribes,  iii.  117. 

Christian  Missions,  late  commencement 
of,  in  the  land  of  Luther,  ii.  430. 

Christian  Name,  paramount  glory  of,  i. 
588,  589. 

Christian  Nation  of  Drunkards,  an  ano¬ 
maly,  ii.  313. 

Christian  Partisanship,  cause  and  cure  of, 
iii.  224,  225. 

Christian  Patriot,  conduct  of  the  true,  ii. 
280,  682. 

Christian  Professors,  need  more  charity, 
ii.  103,  270. 

Christian  Religion,  laws  and  promises  of, 
i.  275  ;  the  power  of,  311 ;  end  and  aim 
of,  ii.  117;  provides  for  both  worlds, 
186;  invites  investigation,  195;  effects 
of,  235. 

Christian  Solace,  strength  of,  i.  546. 

Christian  Truth,  derived  only  from  a 
careful  study  of  the  Bible,  i.  306. 

Christian  World,  aspect  of  the,  ii.  310. 

Christianity,  not  answerable  for  its  un¬ 
worthy  professors,  i.  273 ;  pure  spirit 
of,  274;  consolations  of,  needed  by  all, 


275;  the  only  religion  of  educated  men, 
304;  her  credentials  clear  to  all,  305; 
as  taught  by  Christ,  305 ;  her  foes,  308; 
only  religion  conquering  without  gov¬ 
ernmental  aid,  310 ;  a  science,  548 ;  al¬ 
ways  maintained  by  men  of  learning, 

ii.  45-47 ;  demands  a  perpetual  living 
ministry,  66;  has  conquered  but  a 
small  part  of  the  world,  88;  stands  or 
falls  with  the  Sabbath,  110;  amelio¬ 
rating  power  of,  over  nations,  235; 
blessed  influence  of,  on  individuals, 
236;  early  modified  by  schools  of  phi¬ 
losophy,  iii.  201 ;  ends  where  persecu¬ 
tion  begins,  212;  its  independence  of 
the  State  in  the  first  centuries,  420 ; 
three  distinct  forms  of,  427 ;  formed  a 
new  era  in  human  history,  460 ;  stands 
always  on  its  own  merits,  493;  the  re¬ 
ligion  of  the  people  before  Constantine, 
493  ;  abused  by  its  pretended  followers, 
494;  not  responsible  for  evils  done  in 
its  name,  494;  never  endangered  any 
human  right,  495. 

Christians,  faithful,  few  in  number,  ii.  81 ; 
rejected  by  the  world,  283 ;  faith  and 
charity  of  the  early,  330 ;  honest  dif¬ 
ferences  among,  331 ;  true,  to  be  known, 
not  by  their  creed,  but  their  temper, 
344;  have  no  right  to  impose  creeds 
on  each  other,  344;  nominal,  the  cul¬ 
pability  of,  486;  worthy,  invited  to  the 
Lord’s  table,  558-560  ;  primitive,  on 
what  profession  admitted  to  the  church, 

iii.  428 ;  Protestant,  too  much  divided 
since  the  Reformation,  461,  462 ;  of  all 
sects,  appealed  to,  for  the  Bible  Society, 
471,  473;  in  what  they  may  differ  and 
yet  agree,  501;  slow  to  learn  the  truth 
on  great  practical  questions,  523;  their 
position  as  to  the  temperance  cause,  533. 

Christmas,  article  on,  iii.  619 ;  an  occasion 
for  gratitude,  619;  proper  observance 
of,  620. 

Church,  name  of,  applicable  to  all  denomi¬ 
nations  of  Christians,  iii.  424;  of  Christ, 
stable  foundation  of,  proved  by  history, 
461 ;  did  not  encroach  upon  the  State 
in  the  time  of  Constantine,  421  ;  when 
pure,  has  never  sought  alliance  with 
the  State,  422;  the  Presbyterian,  how 
protected  against  unfaithful  ministers, 
ii.  72. 

Church  edifice,  the  indecency  of  w  earing 
hats  in,  iii.  622. 

Church-going  docs  not  alone  fulfil  the  law 
of  the  Sabbath,  ii.  101. 

Church  Government,  form  of,  not  pre¬ 
scribed  in  the  New  Testament,  ii.  334; 
the  divine  warrant  of,  335 ;  the  Pres¬ 
byterian  form  of,  iii.  399  ;  dispensations 
of,  400  ;  primitive  form  did  net  keep 
out  error  and  schism,  404,  405  ;  no  form 
of,  proof  against  such  evils,  404,  405; 
the  several  forms  of,  403;  no  a  priori 


INDEX. 


685 


argument  for  any  one  system,  403; 
scriptural  basis  of,  how  ascertained, 
404;  essential  principles  of,  405  ;  claim 
of  each  form  to  be  the  best,  406;  offi¬ 
cers  of  the  primitive,  how  ascertained, 
409  ;  the  Scotch  system  always  opposed 
to  Erastianism,  408. 

Church  Members  not  the  only  persons 
bound  to  lead  holy  lives,  ii.  191;  to 
what  extent  bound  by  their  creed,  iii. 
451. 

Church  Officers,  the  primitive,  iii.  446, 
447. 

Church  of  Rome,  why  recognized  by  the 
English  bishops,  iii.  415;  held  by  the 
Puritans  to  be  n©  church,  415;  preten¬ 
sions  and  claims  of,  in  this  country, 
425,  426. 

Churches ,  of  the  Protestant  Reformation, 
sad  apostasy  of  many,  ii.  431 ;  esta¬ 
blished  by  law  in  every  nation  except 
our  own,  i.  312;  intercourse  of,  with 
one  another,  ii.  357  ;  how  they  ought  to 
treat  one  another,  iii.  452. 

Cicero,  Marcus  Tullius,  his  definition 
of  law,  i.  299;  quotation  from,  ii.  675; 
his  opinion  on  the  primitive  state  of 
mankind,  iii.  87. 

Cider  and  Ale,  bearing  of,  used  as  a  beve¬ 
rage,  on  the  temperance  cause,  iii.  530. 

Cincinnatus  and  Aristides,  noble  types 
of  mankind,  i.  266. 

Cincinnatus  of  the  West,  title  applied  to 
Washington,  iii.  262. 

Circulation  of  tke  Bible,  a  duty  of  Bible 
religion,  iii.  474;  a  high  and  noble 
privilege,  4S@. 

Circulating  Medium,  the  best  kind  of,  iii. 
372. 

Cities,  in  the  time  of  Adam,  why  needed, 
iii.  98 ;  the  greatest  known  to  history 
built  soon  after  the  flood,  130  ;  of  an- 
eient  Egypt,  number  of,  179 ;  ancient 
American,  by  whom  built,  167. 

Citizen,  of  the  moon,  ought  to  be  believed 
on  his  own  testimony,  ii.  676,  677. 

Civil  Engineering,  should  be  taught  in 
our  colleges,  i.  421. 

Civil  Magistrates,  responsibilities  of,  to 
society,  ii.  115. 

Civility,  the  law  of  ministerial,  iii.  453, 
454. 

Civilization  flowing  from,  the  harden  of 
Eden,  i.  69  ;  rapid  glanee  at  its  history, 
434;  may  exist  in  the  absence  of  all 
true  knowledge  of  God,  iii.  103  ;  found 
in  all  the  countries  first  occupied  after 
the  flood,  109,  113;  traced  to  the  plains 
of  Shinar,  151 ;  the  condition  of  all  the 
most  ancient  historic  nations.  126;  not 
attainable  in  a  savage  state  except 
from  foreign  aid,  83,  114;  the  term  not 
defined,  but  used  according  to  custom, 
135  ;  not  determined  by  the  knowledge 
of  the  multitude,  but  of  the  few,  134 ; 


I  Grecian,  derived  from  Egypt  and  the 
East,  152 ;  Roman,  derived  from  the 
Greeks,  152;  of  Modern  Europe,  whence 
derived,  152. 

Civilized  Man,  always  found  somewhere 
on  earth,  even  in  the  darkest  ages,  iiL 
84. 

Civilized  Nations,  the  first  mentioned  in 
history,  iii.  110,  113  ;  many  in  their 
decline  and  ruin  at  the  dawn  of  Gre¬ 
cian  history,  124. 

Civilized  Races  have  in  no  instance  become 
savages  in  their  own  country,  iii.  187. 

Claims  of  the  Bible,  iii.  479. 

Classes,  numerous,  who  must  be  liberally 
educated,  i.  438 ;  of  men  who  cannot 
be  disfranchised,  iii.  301 ;  of  producers, 
all  beneficial  to  society  and  to  each 
other,  379. 

Classical  Journal,  quotation  from,  iii.  88. 

Classical  Learning,  defended  as  essential 
in  education,  i.  42 ;  the  advantages  of, 

105. 

Classical  Professor,  the  duties  of,  i.  106. 

Classical  Schools  and  Academies  needed 
in  every  community,  i.  135. 

Classical  Studies  important  in  our  acade¬ 
mies,  i.  520. 

Classification  of  schools  and  seminaries, 
i.  127 ;  of  applicants  for  admission  to 
college,  561. 

Classics,  the  ancient,  Dr.  Lindsley’s  esti¬ 
mate  of,  i.  42 ;  the  study  of,  essential 
to  a  collegiate  course,  105. 

Clergy,  agency  of,  in  founding  European 
colleges,  ii.  52 ;  their  rights  as  citizens, 
61 ;  their  usefulness  to  society,  62  ;  dis¬ 
franchisement  of,  in  New  York  and 
other  States,  60 ;  character  of,  in  esta¬ 
blished  churches,  267  ;  condition,  in  our 
country,  different,  268,  269 ;  American 
Presbyterian,  have  never  persecuted, 
353  ;  whigs,  in  the  Revolutionary  War, 
354. 

Clergymen,  American,  all  the  friends  of 
liberty,  i.  326  ;  not  injured  by  a  college 
education,  224;  their  wants  and  hard¬ 
ships,  ii.  37 :  need  a  larger  revenue  as 
almoners  to  the  poor,  38  ;  ought  to  have 
a  correct  knowledge  of  the  world,  49, 
50 ;  not  eligible  to  civil  office  in  Ten¬ 
nessee  and  other  States,  i.  487,  ii.  60, 
iii.  296,  561  ;  aims  of  all  honest,  ii.  64; 
their  want  of  fidelity  towards  the  rich, 
328. 

Clinton,  Governor,  on  the  common 
schools  of  New  York,  i.  518,  519. 

Code,  liberality  of  the  Presbyterian  ec¬ 
clesiastical,  iii.  452. 

Code  of  Honor,  unsupported  by  any  ra¬ 
tional  argument,  i.  193  ;  a  method  sug¬ 
gested  for  the  repeal  of,  191. 

Codman,  Rev.  Dr.,  referred  to,  iii.  17. 

Coercive  System  of  education  adopted  in 
some  countries  of  Europe,  i.  645. 

Coin,  disadvantages  of,  as  a  circulating 


686 


INDEX. 


medium,  iii.  372;  liable  to  constant 
losses,  550. 

Coincidence,  curious  one  between  Moses 
and  Plato,  iii.  161. 

Coldest  Winters  known  in  our  country, 

111.  613,  628. 

Coleman,  Rev.  Thomas,  Erastian,  in 
the  Westminster  Assembly,  iii.  432. 

Coleman’s  Antiquities  referred  to,  iii.  447. 

Coleridge  cited  on  the  destiny  of  Ame¬ 
rica,  iii.  555. 

Colleye,  honours  and  rewards  of,  objec¬ 
tionable,  i.  46 ;  knowledge  requisite  for 
admission  to,  101;  qualifications  of 
candidates  for,  101 ;  prescribed  course 
of  study  in,  102 ;  aim  and  end  of  edu¬ 
cation  in,  110;  not  a  place  for  reform¬ 
ing  bad  boys,  387 ;  freaks  of  smart 
youth  at,  562,  564;  lads  enter  too 
young,  559. 

College  Degrees,  conferring  of,  i.  357; 
views  on,  557. 

College  Government,  principles  of,  i.  44, 

112,  114;  should  be  parental,  112;  not 
adapted  to  very  young  persons,  386; 
thoughts  on,  363-365 ;  should  be  a 
moral  discipline,  369. 

College  Graduates,  their  character  de¬ 
fended,  i.  137 ;  their  love  of  liberty, 
453  ;  their  different  careers  in  life,  540- 
542 ;  their  follies  and  defects,  386. 

College  Life,  an  epitome  of  the  great 
world,  ii.  227. 

College  and  Academic  Fund,  wasted  in 
Tennessee,  i.  497. 

College  of  New  Jersey,  Dr.  Lindsley,  Vice- 
President  of,  i.  13;  the  source  of  its 
origin,  ii.  52 ;  use  of  the  Bible  in,  245. 

College  of  Nashville,  unappreciated  by  its 
own  citizens,  iii.  361. 

Colleges,  aid  primary  schools,  i.  38 ;  num¬ 
ber  of  the  Tennessee,  52 ;  how  and  by 
whom  established,  85;  defect  in  modern, 
91 ;  not  designed  exclusively  for  the 
rich,  77  ;  attempts  in,  to  teach  too  hur¬ 
riedly,  109;  cannot  be  reared  without 
expense,  136;  unfounded  popular  preju¬ 
dices  against,  137;  all  may  be  im¬ 
proved,  143;  objections  urged  against, 
145;  not  exclusively  for  any  one  class, 
145 ;  advantages  of  home,  146 ;  old 
might  be  equal  to  new,  153;  often 
haunts  of  dissipation,  166;  number  in 
Ohio,  Kentucky,  and  Tennessee,  213; 
genuine  levellers  of  distinctions  in  so¬ 
ciety,  231 ;  the  poor  derive  the  greatest 
benefits  from,  231 ;  cheap  institutions 
compared  with  penitentiaries,  249 ;  evils 
of  sectarian,  255  ;  effects  of,  widely  dif¬ 
fused,  342 ;  some  men  inveterate  foes 
to,  395;  hostility  to,  detrimental  to  the 
public  good,  528 ;  number  of,  in  Ten¬ 
nessee,  570;  grant  for  endowment  of, 
531 ;  students  of,  exposed  to  intempe¬ 
rance,  iii.  521. 


Colleges  and  Universities,  by  whom  to  be 
established,  i.  85  ;  the  temptations  often 
fatal  to  the  young,  ii.  165,  166;  how 
created  in  the  West,  i.  215;  influence 
of  European,  138. 

Colleges  of  America,  their  standard  of  ad¬ 
mission  too  low,  i.  104;  not  yet  perfect, 
143  ;  items  indispensable  to,  215;  adapted 
to  our  people,  405. 

Colleges  of  ancient  nations,  their  influence, 
i.  343. 

Colleges  of  Europe,  position  and  influence 
of,  i.  138. 

Colleges  of  Scotland,  i.  79. 

Colleges  of  sects,  how  sustained,  i.  255. 

Colleges  of  the  West,  number  of,  i.  570. 

Colleges  of  various  States,  i.  213,  216,  217. 

Colleges  of  Greece,  champions  of  liberty 
issued  from,  in  their  last  revolution,  i. 
139. 

Collegiate  Education,  Dr.  Lindsley’s  plea 
for,  i.  18;  evils  remedied  by,  338 ;  vin¬ 
dicated  from  objectors,  555-557. 

Colonial  Governors,  American,  their  lordly 
proclivities,  iii.  253. 

Colonial  Legislatures,  American,  always 
resisted  tyranny,  iii.  244. 

Colonial  Pioneers  in  the  cause  of  learning, 
i.  211. 

Colonies,  American,  their  treatment  of 
the  Indians,  ii.  311. 

Colonists,  original,  of  the  United  States, 
descent  and  character  of,  iii.  232 ;  why 
superior  to  all  others,  470. 

Colonization  never  depopulates  the  mother- 
country,  iii.  670. 

Colonization  of  negroes  in  Africa,  gran¬ 
deur  of  the  enterprise,  iii.  578;  the 
abolition  opposition  to  it  a  benefit,  579; 
its  influence  on  the  African  race  in 
America,  664;  cannot  remove  the  race, 
66S,  670. 

Colossal  Works  of  antiquity,  their  origin, 
iii.  131. 

Combinations,  of  tradesmen,  for  fixed 
prices,  unwise,  iii.  597. 

Commencement,  anniversary  of,  1837,  at 
Nashville,  i.  375  :  in  Eastern  colleges  a 
great  occasion,  427. 

Commentaries,  the  proper  use  of  Scripture, 
iii.  220. 

Commerce,  of  ancient  Egypt  in  the  time 
of  Joseph,  iii.  137;  value  of  American, 
internal  and  domestic,  387. 

Commission  of  the  Church  of  Scotland, 
its  early  use,  iii.  440  ;  necessary  for  the 
dispatch  of  judicial  business,  441,  443. 

Commissioners  of  our  General  Assemblies, 
their  capacity  for  business,  iii.  442. 

Common  Ancestry  of  all  men,  assumed  on 
Bible  testimony,  iii.  83. 

Common  Law,  its  theory  admirable,  i.  298. 

Common  School  Education,  what  is  meant 
by,  i.  133. 

Common  Schools,  great  importance  of,  i. 


INDEX. 


687 


131 ;  create  a  demand  for  academies, 
134;  cannot  be  sustained  without  col¬ 
leges,  235 ;  the  university  the  best 
friend  of,  448  ;  reformation  to  be  effected 
by,  470  ;  alone,  not  sufficient  to  educate 
the  people,  .528 ;  those  of  Tennessee 
considered,  643  ;  three  great  parties  on, 
648;  dangerous  when  divorced  from 
religion,  648. 

Commons,  the  British  House  of,  iii.  2S5; 
its  action  cited,  350. 

Communicants,  worthy  and  unworthy,  at 
the  Lord’s  table,  iii.  497. 

Communion,  terms  of  courteous,  between 
churches,  ii.  452. 

Compass,  the  mariner’s,  known  from  time 
immemorial,  iii.  168;  knowledge  of, 
concealed  by  the  Orientals,  169. 

Competitors,  foreign,  yield  to  home,  under 
a  protective  tariff,  iii.  379. 

Condemnation  of  the  negleeters  of  the 
gospel,  just,  ii.  610. 

Condicts  and  Lindsleys,  the  families  of, 
iii.  44,  45. 

Condition,  of  the  United  States  in  1842, 
financially,  iii.  355 ;  of  society,  when 
left  merely  to  human  sanctions,  486; 
of  communities  without  the  Bible,  500. 

Conduct,  of  the  unbelieving  under  gospel 
warnings,  ii.  469 ;  required  by  the 
Bible,  681. 

Confession  of  Faith,  the  Presbyterian,  ar¬ 
ticles  of,  cited,  ii.  686,  iii.  432,  433,  445. 

Conformity,  meaning  of  the  term  in  the 
English  Church,  iii.  413. 

Confusion  of  Tongues  at  Babel,  its  effects 
on  the  race,  iii.  101,  113  ;  how  accounted 
for,  101;  a  punishment  mingled  with 
mercies,  173. 

Congregationalism,  somewhat  Presbyte- 
rianized,  iii.  438. 

Congress,  unjust  laws  of,  iii.  320;  legis¬ 
lative  power  vested  in,  340 ;  under  the 
first  administration,  335 ;  no  right  to 
authorize  or  prohibit  slavery  in  the 
Territories,  570. 

Connecticut,  public  school  system  of,  i. 
471;  objections  to,  473;  Constitution 
of,  iii.  294. 

Connection,  intimate,  between  all  the 
sciences,  ii.  242. 

Conscience,  not  the  guide  of  public  officers, 
iii.  314;  the  Presidential,  337,  369;  not 
a  safe  rule  of  conduct,  341 ;  when  its 
demands  must  be  allowed,  426;  not  to 
be  enslaved  by  human  authority,  451. 

Conscientiousness,  pleaded  by  the  lover  of 
gold,  ii.  43. 

Consciousness,  the  faculty  of,  in  man,  ii. 
664. 

Consecration  of  all  to  Christ,  the  great 
demand  of  the  church,  ii.  372. 

Consistency,  of  character,  needed  in  the 
service  of  God,  ii.  257 ;  developed 
only  by  a  great  object,  258 ;  of  opinion, 


often  a  bar  to  all  improvement,  iii. 
218. 

Consolation  for  life’s  woes,  found  only  in 
the  gospel,  iii.  489. 

Constantine,  the  Emperor,  how  he  be¬ 
came  head  of  the  church,  i.  311;  head 
of  heathenism,  iii.  421 ;  why  he  adopted 
Christianity,  493. 

Constitution,  the  Federal,  final  draft  of, 
iii.  305 ;  to  be  interpreted  by  the  intent 
of  its  framers,  302,  317;  cases  of  its 
wrong  construction,  320,  321 :  articles 
quoted,  322,  371;  strict  and  liberal  in¬ 
terpreters  of,  330,  350,  351 ;  interpreted 
for  the  good  of  the  country,  334;  when 
by  the  letter  and  when  by  the  spirit, 
335;  violations  of,  340  ;  vests  all  legis¬ 
lative  power  in  Congress,  340  ;  legisla¬ 
tive  construction  of,  342 ;  amendments 
to,  suggested,  287,  321,  344,  349;  re¬ 
quires  a  uniform  paper  currency,  371 ; 
where  the  letter  fails,  the  spirit  must 
govern,  568 ;  how  it  may  be  perverted, 
569  ;  wise  provisions  of,  i.  583. 

Constitutions,  American,  in  what  derived 
from  the  British,  iii.  285;  in  what  de¬ 
fective,  287 ;  good  in  proportion  to 
their  brevity,  294;  allow  no  infringe¬ 
ment  of  the  rights  of  conscience,  426. 

Constitution  of  New  York,  its  excluding 
the  clergy  from  office,  ii.  60. 

Constitution  of  Rome,  under  the  consuls, 
iii.  345. 

Constructive  Treason,  a  dangerous  instru¬ 
ment,  i.  457. 

Consubstantiation,  Luther’s  doctrine  of, 
an  example  of  prejudice,  iii.  215. 

Consumption,  articles  of,  taxable  in  a 
tariff,  iii.  377  ;  of  wealth,  caused  by 
ardent  spirits,  524. 

Contentment,  Christian,  advantages  of,  ii. 
261 ;  taught  by  God’s  providences,  452. 

Contest,  the  Ptevolutionary,  its  inequality, 
iii.  248. 

Contradictions,  to  reason,  not  found  in  the 
Scriptures,  ii.  672  ;  may  seem  so  because 
unrevealed,  673. 

Contrasts  between  Pagan  and  Christian 
men,  ii.  135;  of  character,  suggested, 
iii.  571,  590. 

Contributions,  liberal,  to  Bible  Society,  iii. 
500. 

Controversia  Verbi,  illustration  of,  ii. 
675. 

Controversies,  religious,  largely  attributa¬ 
ble  to  prejudice,  iii.  199;  trivial  cha¬ 
racter  of,  in  the  Middle  Ages,  202,  203; 
acrimonious  nature  of  most  religious, 
209;  on  episcopal  power  in  sixteenth 
century,  414,  415. 

Convenient  Season,  never  comes  to  the 
procrastinating,  ii.  617. 

Convention,  minutes  of  the  Federal,  iii. 
317 ;  should  bo  known,  to  interpret  the 
Constitution,  318. 


688 


INDEX. 


Converts ,  never  made  by  abuse  and  denun¬ 
ciation,  iii.  209. 

Copernicctn  System,  first  discovered  in 
Egypt,  iii.  143. 

Copts,  of  modern  Egypt,  no  criterion  of 
Pharaoh’s  wise  men,  iii.  145. 

Cornaro,  the  Italian,  an  example  for 
young  men,  ii.  173-175. 

Corn  Laics  of  England,  not  the  cause  of 
her  prosperity,  iii.  393. 

Corporation,  civil,  defined,  iii.  362;  not 
more  reliable  than  individuals,  363  ; 
bank,  defined,  547. 

Corresponding  Members  of  Synods  and 
Presbyteries,  iii.  454,  455. 

Cost  of  intemperance  in  our  country,  iii. 
491. 

Cotton,  the  policy  of  England  as  to  the 
growth  of,  iii.  383 ;  American,  ought  to 
be  manufactured  at  home,  384;  where 
it  may  be  cultivated,  650. 

Counsels  to  the  young,  ii.  148,  149. 

Counterblast,  of  King  James,  to  tobacco, 
iii.  556. 

Counterfeit,  of  godliness,  described,  ii. 
584,  682. 

Country,  the  love  of,  strong,  i.  352 ;  an 
agricultural,  needs  manufactures  and  a 
market  for  its  products,  iii.  381,  387. 

Countries,  all  mentioned  in  Scripture,  full 
of  inhabitants,  iii.  182. 

Courage,  the  power  of  moral,  described,  i. 
169,  ii.  682. 

Courts,  of  law,  expensive  and  unsatisfac¬ 
tory,  i.  296 ;  separate  ecclesiastic,  sug¬ 
gested  for  the  Presbyterian  Church,  iii. 
442;  one  of  supreme  appellate  jurisdic¬ 
tion  needed,  444. 

Covetousness,  evidences  of,  ii.  43. 

Crantor,  on  Plato’s  Atlantis,  with  Am- 
mianus  Marcellinus,  referred  to,  iii. 
156. 

Creation,  of  the  universe,  in  what  sense  a 
mystery,  ii.  640  ;  of  all  plants  and  ani¬ 
mals  in  a  state  of  perfection,  iii.  98. 

Credit,  better  than  money,  iii.  360 ;  State 
bills  of,  unconstitutional,  365. 

Creditors,  private,  to  be  paid  before  gov¬ 
ernment,  iii.  321. 

Creed,  Dr.  Lindsley’s,  on  popular  educa¬ 
tion,  i.  500  ;  of  the  Temperance  Society, 
short  and  good,  ii.  345;  of  all  the  Re¬ 
formed  Churches,  Calvinistic,  348 ;  no 
formal,  required  for  salvation  in  the 
Scriptures,'  680. 

Creeds  and  Confessions,  their  place  among 
Protestants,  ii.  340,  341. 

Creeds,  necessity  for,  iii.  220 ;  why  adopted 
by  Protestants,  451 ;  theological,  how 
adopted  and  held,  219;  political,  eccle¬ 
siastical,  and  literary,  ii.  346;  of  the 
skeptics,  most  objectionable  of  all, 
346. 

Criminals,  state,  unknown  in  the  Ameri¬ 
can  government,  iii.  254. 


Crimes,  increase  of,  in  Connecticut  and 
New  York,  i.  507 ;  amount  of,  from  im 
temperance,  iii.  507. 

Crisis,  in  the  American  Union,  in  1832,  i. 
332. 

Criterion  by  which  all  must  be  judged,  ii. 
192. 

Crockett,  Samuel,  son-in-law  of  Dr. 
Lindsley,  i.  15. 

Crgesus  and  Solon,  interview  between, 

ii.  222,  223. 

Cromwell,  Oliver,  like  Caesar  and  Bo¬ 
naparte,  not  to  be  envied,  ii.  223 ;  like 
Washington  and  Moses,  the  author  of 
a  revolution,  iii.  563;  compared  with 
Fox,  the  Quaker,  564. 

Cross  of  Christ,  our  true  ground  of  glory¬ 
ing,  iii.  224. 

Cross,  Professor  Nathaniel,  referred 
to,  iii.  27. 

Crowding  of  studies  in  education,  to  be 
avoided,  i.  109. 

Crown  of  glory  offered  in  the  gospel,  ii. 
607. 

Cumberland  College,  changed  to  Univer¬ 
sity  of  Nashville,  i.  13;  Dr.  Lindsley’s 
views  of,  19,  iii.  23 ;  its  condition  and 
prospects  in  1825,  i.  86;  not  a  sectarian 
institution,  88 ;  contemplated  improve¬ 
ments  in,  153,  156,  157. 

Cumberland  Presbyterians ,  their  mistake 
in  changing  the  Confession  of  Faith,  iii. 
436. 

Cumberland  River,  at  Nashville,  described, 

iii.  613. 

Cure  for  intemperance,  a  grand  discovery, 
iii.  509. 

Currency,  paper,  the  only  safe  one,  iii. 
365;  of  some  kind,  essential,  367;  in¬ 
dispensable  elements  of,  374;  value  of 
a  national,  370 ;  should  be  uniform, 
371;  advantages  of,  372;  compared 
with  specie,  550. 

Custom,  tyranny  of,  i.  186. 

D 

Damascus,  ancient,  origin  and  history  of, 
iii.  130. 

Danger,  of  openly  attacking  prejudices, 
iii.  193 ;  to  American  constitutional 
liberty,  257. 

Dark  Ages,  of  Europe,  not  destitute  of  all 
light,  i.  73. 

Davidson,  Bible  Society  of,  its  objects 
and  ends,  iii.  465,  499 ;  anniversaries 
of,  459,  479,  500. 

Davies,  President  Samuel,  his  labours 
in  Virginia,  ii.  715. 

Dawn  of  a  more  charitable  day  antici¬ 
pated,  ii.  368. 

Deacons  in  the  church,  first  appointment 
of,  iii.  446. 

Deaconesses,  female  presbyters,  iii.  447. 

Death,  provision  for,  recommended,  i.  205  ; 


INDEX. 


689 


thoughts  on  the  certainty  of,  184;  its 
terrible  reign  described,  216,  217 ;  why 
dreaded  by  the  aged,  220 ;  the  final 
criterion  of  happiness,  222 ;  exhorta¬ 
tion  to  prepare  for,  298;  its  approach 
a  restraint  on  the  wicked,  463 ;  a  ter¬ 
rible  messenger  to  sinners,  625;  of 
Washington,  universal  sorrow  produced 
by,  iii.  234. 

D  eaths,  yearly  number  of,  ii.  216. 

Death-bed,  its  lessons  as  to  the  value  of 
time,  ii.  221 ;  a  true  test  of  all  earthly 
things,  227. 

Debt,  a  national,  convertible  into  a  sound 
paper  currency,  iii.  373. 

Decision  of  character,  necessary  for  the 
Christian,  ii.  253;  illustrations  of,  in 
history,  254;  displays  of,  in  private 
life,  255;  may  sink  into  self-willed  ob¬ 
stinacy,  256;  more  than  constitutional 
hardihood,  257. 

Decision  of  Supreme  Court  to  be  obeyed, 
though  not  always  right,  iii.  319. 

Decline  of  churches  in  some  parts  of  the 
South,  ii.  714. 

Defects,  in  modern  colleges,  i.  91,  101; 
of  our  country,  244;  in  the  Presbyte¬ 
rian  system,  iii.  440. 

Deficiency  of  human  laws  remedied  by 
the  Bible,  iii.  488. 

De  Foe,  poetical  quotation  from,  iii.  555. 

Degeneracy,  the  law  of  human  nature 
without  education,  i.  70,  71;  of  our 
race  after  the  dispersion  at  Babel,  iii. 
101;  strong  tendency  to,  113,  114. 

Degraded  Classes  in  Christian  Europe 
and  America,  iii.  132. 

Degraded  Varieties  of  the  human  family 
may  all  be  Hamites,  iii.  186. 

Degrading  Despotism  of  intemperance 
long  confessed,  iii.  506. 

Degrees,  college,  conferred  on  unworthy 
candidates,  i.  557 ;  of  civilization  in 
different  ages,  iii.  135. 

Deity,  universal  belief  in  the  existence  of, 

ii.  440. 

Delafield,  Joirx,  his  work  on  American 
Antiquities,  iii.  162. 

Delay,  danger  and  folly  of,  in  matters  of 
religion,  ii.  718. 

Delhi,  Pekin,  Jcddo,  great  population  of, 

iii.  181. 

Deluge,  changes  wrought  by,  on  the 
earth’s  surface,  iii.  101. 

Demagogues,  hypocritical  defenders  of  the 
poor,  i.  332 ;  modern,  described,  iii. 
277,  278;  claim  to  be  democrats,  300; 
their  tricks  on  the  people,  342,  343  ; 
often  professors  of  superior  sanctity, 
495 ;  generally  declaim  against  the 
rich,  596. 

Democracy,  American,  treatise  on,  iii.  317, 
354;  the  best  type  of,  291 ;  proper  limit¬ 
ations  of,  300;  aims  of,  301;  its  ele¬ 
mental  principles,  299 ;  display  of,  in 

VOL.  III. — 44 


Rhode  Island,  295  ;  may  be  tyrannical, 
312  ;  inconsistencies  and  contradictions 
of,  342. 

Democracies,  of  ancient  Greece  and  Rome, 
their  aristocratic  spirit,  iii.  467,  468. 

Denominational  Zeal,  illiberal  display  of, 
in  schools  and  colleges,  i.  257. 

Denunciation,  of  churches  from  the  pulpit, 
useless,  iii.  452. 

Departments,  of  government,  subject  to 
the  President,  iii.  323. 

Depravity  of  human  nature,  evidences 
of,  ii.  389 ;  admitted  by  good  men, 
denied  only  by  bad,  477;  not  incom¬ 
patible  with  a  state  of  civilization,  iii. 
103. 

Descendants  of  Sliem  and  Japheth,  their 
superior  destiny,  iii.  163. 

Description,  of  Nashville,  in  1S30  and 
1859,  i.  57-59;  of  the  modern  genteel 
beggar,  iii.  607,  609. 

Designation  of  ancient  bishops  by  their 
cities  or  sites,  iii.  417,  418. 

Despotic  Power  of  prejudice  illustrated, 
iii.  215. 

Despotism,  in  France,  demolished,  i.  137 ; 
in  ancient  Egypt,  productive  of  art,  iii. 
132 ;  of  the  English  established  church, 
416. 

Destroyer  of  others  a  self-destroyer,  iii. 
537. 

Be  Witts,  of  Holland,  referred  to,  iii. 
282. 

Differences  among  Protestant  clergy,  cha¬ 
racter  of,  iii.  208. 

Difficulties,  in  he  way  of  salvation,  how 
removed,  ii.  197,  390  ;  of  modern  unbe¬ 
lievers,  the  same  as  in  Paul's  da}r,  671 : 
unnecessarily  created,  672;  in  Scrip¬ 
ture,  of  what  kind,  iii.  206. 

Diffusion  of  knowledge  beneficial  to  all 
classes,  i.  198. 

Dignitaries  of  the  English  Church,  their 
liberal  views,  iii.  411. 

Dilemma  to  the  American  philanthropist 
touching  African  slavery,  iii.  666. 

Diocesan  Bishops,  as  held  by  episcopal 
writers  of  sixteenth  century,  iii.  414  : 
how  their  power  first  arose,  417;  modern 
and  ancient  titles  compared,  418 ;  Ro¬ 
man  Catholic  and  Episcopal  contrasted, 
419. 

D  iocesan  Ep  iscopacy,  r.s  expounded  by 
English  reformers,  iii.  414,  415;  its 
origin,  417. 

Diodorus  Siculus,  opinion  of,  concern¬ 
ing  man’s  primeval  state,  iii.  85,  90  : 
his  description  of  the  Egyptian  priest¬ 
hood,  138;  corroborates  the  Mosaic 
history,  139;  his  supposed  reference  to 
America,'  170 ;  on  the  population  of 
ancient  Egypt,  178. 

Directors  of  banks,  should  be  few,  iii.  366. 

Dirks,  the  sporting  of,  by  fashionable  and 
precocious  youth,  condemned,  i.  190. 


GOO 


INDEX. 


Disappointments  overruled  for  our  good, 

ii.  453. 

Disappointed  Ambition  in  the  church  de¬ 
scribed,  ii.  70. 

Disciple  of  Christ,  description  of  his  true 
character,  ii.  682. 

Discipline  of  the  mind,  importance  of,  in 
academical  study,  ii.  242. 

Discordant  Opinions  unnatural  among 
friends  of  the  Bible,  iii.  197. 

Discourse,  Dr.  Lindsley’s,  on  the  myste¬ 
ries  of  God,  ii.  631;  his  inaugural  as 
Professor  at  New  Albany,  iii.  399. 

Discovery,  of  the  Christian  duty  of  circu¬ 
lating  the  Bible,  when  made,  iii.  462  ; 
of  a  cure  or  preventive  for  drunkenness, 
509. 

Discoverers  and  Inventors,  distinguished, 
referred  to,  iii.  418. 

Discrimination  between  articles  in  a  tariff 
for  revenue,  iii.  378. 

Diseases  produced  by  the  use  of  ardent 
spirits,  iii.  517. 

Dismemberment  of  the  American  Union  a 
sad  calamity,  iii.  255. 

Dispensation,  of  grace,  the  one  we  live 
under,  ii.  710;  difference  of  the  Mosaic 
and  Christian,  iii.  401. 

Dispersion  at  Babel  attended  by  other 
great  changes,  iii.  174. 

Dissensions  among  Christians,  the  causes 
of,  iii.  204. 

Dissenters,  English  use  of  the  term  not 
applicable  in  our  country,  iii.  423. 

Dissenters  and  Heretics  unknown  in  Ame¬ 
rica,  i.  318. 

Dissolution  of  the  American  Union,  too 
dreadful  to  think  of,  i.  333;  who  aim 
at  it,  iii.  435 ;  a  possible  thing,  255. 

Distillation,  invented  after  the  close  of 
the  Scripture  canon,  iii.  531. 

Distilled  Liquors,  their  use  deleterious, 

iii.  529 ;  ought  to  be  abandoned  as  a 
beverage,  534. 

Distilleries,  a  dead  loss  to  society,  iii. 
525  ;  their  pernicious  influences,  537. 

Distinction, eminent, rarely  attained  among 
men,  i.  555. 

Diversity,  of  opinions,  on  the  ways  and 
means  of  education,  i.  643  ;  of  animals, 
in  the  Old  and  New  Worlds,  accounted 
for,  iii.  172. 

Division  of  the  earth,  the  first,  a,s  recorded 
by  Moses,  iii.  127 ;  in  the  days  of  Peleg, 
meaning  of,  160. 

Divines,  what  they  ought  to  be,  i.  224. 

Divine  Aid  needed  by  man  as  a  sinner, 
ii.  687. 

Divine  Agency,  necessary  to  change  the 
heart,  ii.  526 ;  consistent  with  human 
ability,  527. 

Divine  Existence  a  mystery  to  man,  ii.  640. 

Divine  Government,  a  sermon,  ii.  439;  a 
source  of  joy  to  men,  447 ;  its  grand 
end,  448. 


Divine  Law,  obedience  to,  a  duty,  i.  175: 
requirements  of,  176  ;  binding  authority 
on  all,  ii.  189. 

Divine  Mediator ,  his  great  atonement,  ii. 
703. 

Divine  Providence,  dealings  of,  towards 
Christian  communities,  ii.  713. 

Divine  Revelation  adapted  to  man  as  he 
is,  ii.  663,  664. 

Divinity  of  Christ,  prominent  doctrine  in 
all  Paul's  writings,  ii.  645,  646 ;  rests 
not  on  abstract  arguments,  691 ;  denied 
by  descendants  of  New  England  Puri¬ 
tans,  713. 

Divisions  among  Christians  began  in  the 
apostolic  church,  i.  332. 

Divorce  among  slaves,  what  constitutes, 
iii.  582. 

Doctorates,  college,  Dr.  Lindsley’s  esti¬ 
mate  of,  iii.  41 ;  might  be  assumed  at 
pleasure,  i.  557. 

Doctors,  ecclesiastical,  their  inconsisten¬ 
cies,  ii.  327. 

Doctrine,  meaning  of,  in  the  New  Testa¬ 
ment,  ii.  340,  iii.  451 ;  of  a  primeval 
savage  state,  whence  derived,  iii.  123 ; 
of  the  Trinity,  properly  called  a  mys¬ 
tery,  ii.  638,  639;  illustrations  of,  in¬ 
sufficient,  674. 

Doctrines,  of  the  Bible,  why  called  mys¬ 
teries,  ii.  637 ;  how  treated,  686 ;  their 
social  tendencies,  iii.  489 ;  of  past  ages, 
many  exploded,  i.  285. 

Documents,  Congressional,  iii.  317. 

Dogma,  th q  jure  divino  of  high  churchism, 
iii.  410;  of  the  king’s  supremacy,  cor¬ 
rupting  and  fatal  to  the  church,  416. 

Dogmas  of  Romanism  now  prevalent  in 
our  country,  iii.  424,  426. 

Dogmatism  exhibited  by  all  churches  as 
to  their  form  of  government,  iii.  406. 

Dogmatist,  the  theological,  described,  iii. 
218,  219. 

Dollar  Standard,  republican  nabobs  of 
the,  i.  395. 

Domestic  Manufactures,  their  advantages 
to  a  country,  iii.  384c  ought  to  be  pro¬ 
tected,  385. 

Domestic  System  of  education,  recommend¬ 
ed,  i.  253  ;  its  advantages,  416. 

Domination  of  factions  in  a  republic  sure 
to  end  in  permanent  despotism,  iii.  257. 

Doom,  of  the  wicked,  aggravated  by  re¬ 
jecting  the  gospel,  ii.  407  ;  determined 
not  by  logic  but  the  testimony  of  God, 
692 ;  of  the  youthful  drinker  of  ardent 
spirits,  iii.  521. 

Doomed  Race  of  Ham,  the  American  sav¬ 
ages,  iii.  163. 

Dorr,  the  RLode  Island  rebel,  iii.  297. 

Drunkard,  once  regarded  as  a  hopeless 
character,  iii.  507  ;  who  most  to  blame 
for  his  ruin,  514. 

Drunkards,  their  liability  to  all  forms  of 
disease,  iii.  519;  how  led  on  to  ruin, 


INDEX. 


691 


521  ;  often  made  by  parents,  522;  some¬ 
times  reclaimed,  527 ;  made  out  of 
moderate  drinkers,  533. 

Drunkenness,  the  increase  of,  in  our  coun¬ 
try,  i.  183 ;  the  great  evil  of  the  times, 
383:  effects  of,  in  South  Carolina,  384; 
its  debasing  character,  ii.  164;  its  ex¬ 
tent  and  cost  in  our  land,  iii.  507,  514, 
523;  its  dangers,  508;  the  pathology 
of,  517;  horrors  and  crimes  of,  520;  its 
condemnation  in  Scripture,  531;  fed 
by  moderate  drinking,  533. 

Duelling,  the  practice  of,  how  sustained, 

i.  102,  193;  its  relation  to  Christian 
gentlemen,  ii.  313;  must  come  to  an 
end  as  the  Bible  prevails,  iii.  491. 

Duty,  practical,  not  well  understood  by 
men,  ii.  324;  of  observing  the  Sabbath, 
87;  of  all  men  as  to  temperance,  iii. 
534,  535. 

Duties,  of  the  Sabbath  day,  enjoined,  ii. 
96 ;  of  ministers  and  hearers  pointed 
out,  656;  high  import,  adopted  by  all 
commercial  nations,  iii.  388. 

Dwight,  Dr.  Timothy,  testimony  for 
Presbyterian  elders,  iii.  438. 

E 

j Early  History  of  civilization  traced  in 
the  Bible,  i.  67. 

Early  Peopling  of  America,  objection  to, 
considered,  iii.  176. 

Earl i /  Piety  recommended,  a  discourse,  ii. 

12  i. 

Early  Settlers  of  Virginia  and  Maryland, 

ii.  374. 

Earnestness  the  essence  of  persuasion,  ii.  9. 

Earth,  its  fertility  and  healthfulness  be¬ 
fore  the  flood,  iii.  101 ;  divided  in  Pe- 
leg's  days,  impoft  of,  160 ;  may  have 
been  once  a  continuous  body  of  land, 
172  ;  more  populous  in  ancient  than 
modern  times,  182. 

Eastern  Colleges,  why  attended  by  youth 
from  the  South  and  West,  i.  260;  their 
expensiveness,  281. 

Ecclesiastical  Despotism,  the  remedy  for, 

iii.  497. 

Ecclesiastical  History  harmonizes  with 
civil  and  profane,  ii.  507. 

Ecclesiastical  Polity,  test  of  the  best  sys¬ 
tem  of,  iii.  399 ;  the  essential  principles 
of,  404;  cannot  exclude  error  and 
schism,  404;  primitive  form  of,  the 
best  safeguard  for  truth  and  holiness, 
405  ;  claim  of  all  sects  to  have  the  most 
perfect,  406;  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  399 ;  of  the  English  Episcopal 
Church,  413. 

Eclipse  of  the  sun  a  mystery  to  the  igno¬ 
rant,  ii.  670. 

Economy,  contrast  of  the  Jewish  and 
Christian,  iii.  401. 

Economical  Government  best  secured  by  a 


tariff  on  articles  of  consumption,  iii. 
377. 

Eden,  all  civilization  flowing  from  the 
garden  of,  i.  69. 

Edgeworth,  Bell,  and  Lancaster,  emi¬ 
nent  educators,  i.  521. 

Edgar,  Dr.  John  T.,  referred  to,  ii.  24; 
his  installation  at  Nashville,  303  ;  eu- 
logium  on  his  piety  and  labours,  373. 

Editors  of  newspapers  and  journals  should 
be  educated,  i.  442 ;  their  power  and 
responsibilities,  611. 

Education,  Dr.  Lindsley’s  efforts  in  the 
cause  of,  i.  19;  the  birthright  of  every 
human  being,  37 ;  a  great  science,  47, 
521;  religion  essential  to,  47  ;  study  of 
the  Scriptures  needed  in,  50 ;  religious, 
need  not  be  sectarian,  51;  importance 
of,  65;  many  different  systems  proposed, 
65  ;  essential  to  all  human  progress,  70  ; 
consequences  of  a  neglect  of,  70;  its 
influence  on  human  nature,  70;  the 
safeguard  of  human  liberty,  75;  ad¬ 
vantages  of  a  liberal,  81 ;  its  effects  on 
the  poorer  classes,  82 ;  promotes  ra¬ 
tional  enjoyment,  83;  great  objects  of 
physical,  mental,  and  moral,  89;  its 
effects  upon  the  old  Greeks  and  Romans, 
89 ;  leading  defect  in  the  American 
system,  101;  grand  aim  of  collegiate, 
110;  aim  of  elementary,  121:  not  fin¬ 
ished  with  school  or  college,  121 ;  united 
with  liberty  and  religion  in  all  ages,  126  ; 
essential  to  the  well-being  of  society, 
126;  definition  of,  127;  evils  arising 
from  the  want  of,  126;  the  power  of, 
128;  common-school  or  primary,  con¬ 
sidered,  133;  collegiate,  always  the 
friend  of  liberty,  138,  139;  Benjamin 
Franklin’s  labours  in  the  cause  of,  141: 
Washington’s  efforts  in  the  cause  of, 
142;  the  great  preventive  of  social  dis¬ 
orders,  150 ;  a  remedy  for  the  worst 
evils  of  society,  195 ;  will  diminish 
crimes,  198  ;  the  best  fortune  any  child 
can  have,  197  ;  state  of,  in  the  valley 
of  the  Mississippi,  213;  valuable  to  the 
mechanic,  225  ;  a  boon  for  the  children 
of  the  poor,  230 ;  enforced  by  law  in 
some  European  countries,  240 ;  effects 
of,  in  a  republic.  242:  system  of  Austria 
and  France,  240,  243 ;  the  instrument 
of  human  improvement,  244;  the  sole 
means  of  popular  reformation,  252 ; 
cheaper  than  the  punishment  of  crime, 
252  ;  the  legitimate  ends  of  all  popular, 
301 ;  political  advantages  arising  from, 
341 :  system  of,  at  Geneva,  in  Switzer¬ 
land,  414;  expensive  when  youth  are 
sent  from  home,  428 ;  blunders  of  our 
republic  urged  the  necessity  of,  467 ; 
its  relation  to  matrimony,  483 ;  of  all 
children,  how  secured,  483 :  the  prime 
object  with  all  parents,  506;  a  subject 
on  which  all  dogmatize  too  much,  521; 


G92 


INDEX. 


worthy  of  profound  study  as  a  science, 
521 ;  a  blessing  placed  within  the  reach 
of  all,  500  ;  the  cause  of,  in  Tennessee, 
530  ;  conceded  by  all  men  to  be  indis¬ 
pensable,  643 ;  sentiment  and  habit  of 
the  people  of  the  New  England  States 
in  regard  to,  645 ;  a  public  better  than 
a  private,  ii.  48  ,•  tendency  of  a  private, 
54;  the  chief  cause  of  difference  in 
social  rank,  iii.  114;  a  slow  and  diffi¬ 
cult  process  to  the  child,  115. 

Education,  lecture  on  popular,  by  Dr. 
Lindsley,  i.  463. 

Education  under  private  pastors  not  the 
best  preparation  for  the  ministry,  ii.  54. 

Education,  ministerial,  best  secured  in 
theological  seminaries,  ii.  55;  objec¬ 
tions  to,  answered,  56. 

Education,  in  Tennessee,  commonly  prized 
for  its  costliness,  iii.  603. 

Educational  Articles  written  by  Dr.  Linds¬ 
ley,  i.  32. 

Educational  Systems  of  the  Old  World,  i. 
243. 

Educated  Classes,  how  repelled  from  the 
pulpit,  ii.  22  ;  their  patriotism  and  phi¬ 
lanthropy,  137. 

Educated  Parents  will  always  educate 
their  children,  i.  647. 

Educated  and  Uneducated,  the  great  dis¬ 
tinction,  i.  149,  150. 

Edwards,  President  Jonathan,  an  ex¬ 
ample  of  courageous  fidelity,  ii.  329 ; 
referred  to,  iii.  435 ;  in  favour  of  Pres¬ 
byterianism,  437,  438. 

Effrontery  of  such  as  sit  in  judgment  on 
Christians,  ii.  193. 

Egypt,  ancient,  a  civilized  nation  in  the 
time  of  Abraham,  iii.  136;  art  and 
philosophy  of,  136;  priesthood  and 
civil  polity  of,  138;  one  great  monarchy 
from  Abraham  to  Moses,  140  ;  its  weak¬ 
ness  and  disorders  in  subsequent  times, 
141 ;  vast  population  of,  178. 

Egypt  and  the  East,  civilized  before  the 
dawn  of  Grecian  history,  iii.  Ill;  highly 
polished  in  the  times  of  Ilesiod  and 
Homer,  125. 

Egyptian  Art,  indestructible  monuments 
of,  iii.  145. 

Egyptian  Bondage  of  our  American  fore¬ 
fathers  a  popular  mistake,  iii.  244. 

Egyptian  Colleges,  with  those  of  Greece 
and  Rome,  i.  343. 

Egyptian  Navies,  traces  of,  on  American 
shores,  iii.  167. 

Egyptian  Sages,  their  knowledge  of  as¬ 
tronomy,  iii.  143. 

Egyptians,  the  first  known  to  history, 
civilized,  iii.  136;  like  the  Phoenicians 
and  Chaldeans,  never  in  a  savage  state, 

151. 

Elders,  distinction  between  preaching  and 
ruling,  iii.  445,  447 ;  opinions  as  to 
their  term  of  office,  445. 


Election  and  Predestination  not  incom¬ 
patible  with  belief,  ii.  673. 

Elective  Franchise  for  Federal  officers,  iii. 
326. 

Electoral  Colleges  should  fill  vacancies  in 
cases  of  death,  iii.  344;  might  be  dis¬ 
pensed  with  altogether,  345. 

Elementary  Principles,  of  Presbyterian 
church  government,  iii.  400 ;  their 
prominence  in  the  New  Testament,  401. 

Elementary  Education  should  be  the  same 
for  all,  irrespective  of  professions,  i.  227. 

Elementary  Schools  the  first  want  of  the 
people,  i.  134. 

Eleusinian  Mysteries  powerless  compared 
with  those  of  the  gospel,  ii.  650. 

Eligibility  to  office,  proper  age  of,  iii.  2S7. 

Elizabeth,  Queen,  despotic  and  perse¬ 
cuting  character  of,  iii.  412,  414,  430. 

Eloquent  Preachers  have  many  points  in 
common,  ii..  9. 

Emancipation  of  our  slaves,  inevitable, 
iii.  668  ;  should  not  be  rash  and  sudden, 
670. 

Embargo  Act  of  Jefferson’s  administration 
not  liked  by  England,  iii.  319. 

Eminent  Men  always  self-made,  i.  342. 

Empires,  the  greatest,  of  ancient  times, 
formed  by  the  children  of  Ham,  iii.  128. 

Employment,  proper,  the  benefits  of,  i.  92; 
should  be  continued  through  life,  ii.  179. 

Enactments  needed  to  secure  universal 
education,  i.  646. 

Encrinitic  Marble,  vast  fields  of,  i.  630. 

End  sanctifies  the  means,  adopted  by  some 
Protestants,  iii.  599. 

Enemy  of  Education  the  worst  foe  to  his 
country,  i.  77. 

Enemies  of  the  Bible,  men  of  dangerous 
influence,  i.  307  ;  no  friends  of  liberty 
generally,  iii.  470,  498. 

England,  associations  formed  in,  for  men¬ 
tal  improvement,  i.  93,  123;  her  tariff 
and  prohibitory  policy,  iii.  383  ;  able  to 
compete  with  us  in  growing  cotton, 
383  ;  her  judicious  land-tax  a  cause  of 
prosperity,  392,  393 ;  her  gold  circula¬ 
tion  deteriorated  by  sweating,  373. 

English  Achievements  the  common  inherit¬ 
ance  of  Americans,  iii.  231. 

English  American  Colonies,  secret  of  their 
successful  revolution,  iii.  240. 

English  and  Americans,  proverbially  easy 
to  be  imposed  on,  iii.  607 ;  conservative 
character  of  their  revolutions,  562. 

English  Colonies,  the  master-spirits  of, 
educated  men,  i.  453. 

English  Established  Church,  its  fatal  dog¬ 
ma  of  royal  supremacy,  iii.  416. 

English  Hereditary  Aristocracy  a  bar  to 
all  democracy,  iii.  253. 

English  Liberty,  its  safeguard  in  the 
House  of  Commons,  iii.  329. 

English  Literature  an  American  inherit¬ 
ance,  i.  355. 


INDEX. 


693 


English  Reformers,  their  recognition  of 
all  Protestant  churches,  iii.  411,  415. 

English  School  System,  features  of,  i.  102. 

English  Spirit  exhibited  in  the  American 
colonists  of  1776,  iii.  234. 

English  System  of  Law,  its  unchangeable 
character,  i.  298. 

English  Universities,  the  models  of  our 
own,  i.  400 ;  their  splendid  buildings, 
401 ;  compared  with  the  German,  402. 

Englishmen,  in  America,  could  not  be  taxed 
without  their  consent,  iii.  246;  the 
rights  of,  claimed  by  our  Revolutionary 
fathers,  407;  modern,  unable  to  com¬ 
prehend  the  working  of  our  government, 
242. 

Enormity  of  sin  not  to  be  extenuated,  ii. 
691. 

Enterprises,  public,  opposed  in  proportion 
to  their  excellence,  iii.  463. 

Entertainment  offered  in  whiskey  taverns, 
iii.  537. 

Enthusiastic  Christian,  a  defective  cha¬ 
racter,  ii.  546. 

Epicurean  Philosophers,  their  opinion  of 
man’s  primeval  state,  iii.  85. 

Episcopacy ,  its  fierce  combats  with  Inde¬ 
pendency  and  Presbytery,  iii.  208  ;  how 
it  supplanted  primitive  Presbytery,  429 ; 
its  controversies  in  the  reign  of  Eliza¬ 
beth,  415;  lordly  title  of  its  bishops  in 
the  United  States,  417-419. 

Equality,  of  privileges  in  all  parts  of  our 
Union,  iii.  386;  of  rank  secured  by  the 
American  Revolution,  252. 

Erastians,  eminent  and  influential,  in  the 
Westminster  Assembly,  iii.  432. 

Erastianism,  opposed  by  the  Scottish  Pres¬ 
byterians,  iii.  408;  elements  of,  in  the 
English  and  Scotch  Churches,  420. 

Error  to  be  distinguished  from  the  errorist 
in  discussion,  iii.  426. 

Error  and  Superstition,  the  source  of,  i. 
166. 

Errors,  afloat  in  the  world,  ii.  364 ;  fatal 
and  delusive,  on  personal  religion,  400. 

Er  rorists  can  be  won  only  by  a  gospel  of 
love,  iii.  452. 

Erskine,  Rev.  Dr.,  of  Scotland,  referred 
to,  iii.  437,  438. 

Esquimaux,  descendants  of  Japheth,  iii. 
165. 

Essay,  Adam  Ferguson’s,  on  civil  society, 
quoted,  iii.  92. 

Essentials,  of  salvation  distinguished  from 
non-essentials,  ii.  356. 

Established  Churches,  antichristian,  ii. 
319;  their  neglect  of  foreign  missions, 
433  ;  ail  more  or  less  Erastian.  iii.  420; 
their  persecutions  in  the  American 
colonies,  423. 

Established  Church  of  Scotland ,  always 
opposed  to  Erastianism,  iii.  408. 

Established  Church  of  England,  nature 
of  her  power,  iii.  413;  her  ablest  de¬ 


fender,  Hooker,  412 ;  the  creature  of 
the  State,  420. 

Eternal  Death  the  doom  of  gospel-neg- 
lecters,  ii.  702. 

Eternal  Destiny,  fearful,  of  the  impenitent 
sinner,  ii.  708. 

Eternal  Punishment,  the  doctrine  of,  ii. 
689 ;  clearly  taught  in  the  Bible,  689. 

Eternal  Sonship  of  Christ,  an  unfathom¬ 
able  mystery,  ii.  692,  693 ;  the  doctrine 
vindicated  against  objectors,  694,  695. 

Eternity,  no  escape  from,  by  sinners,  ii: 
624 ;  full  of  terror  to  the  unconverted, 
624. 

Eternity  of  Matter,  bearing  of  the  doc¬ 
trine  on  an  Eternal  Creator,  ii.  694,  695. 

Ethics  and  Religion  need  to  be  well  stu¬ 
died,  i.  455. 

Eugene  Aram  and  William  Dodd,  ex¬ 
ceptional  cases,  i.  456. 

Euler,  the  mathematician,  a  Calvinist, 

ii.  358. 

Europe,  colleges  and  universities  of,  i.  138. 

European  Aristocracy,  its  prospective  bat¬ 
tle  with  the  people,  iii.  253. 

European  IJoqoulaee  compared  with  Ame¬ 
rican,  i.  241. 

European  Revolutions,  radical  defect  of, 

iii.  242. 

European  Sages  afraid  of  too  much  know¬ 
ledge  among  the  people,  i..  302. 

Europeans,  their  error  as  to  the  origin  of 
American  liberty,  iii.  245. 

Evangelical  Obedience,  nature  and  obli¬ 
gation  of,  ii.  576. 

Evangelical  Repentance,  secures  reforma¬ 
tion  of  life,  ii.  508 ;  the  work  of  a  life¬ 
time,  509;  nature  and  duty  of,  596; 
implies  faith  in  Christ,  606. 

Events  and  Changes  in  the  world  since 
the  birth  of  Washington,  iii.  235. 

Evidence,  adduced,  of  the  beneficial  ten¬ 
dency  of  learning,  i.  139;  of  history, 
favours  a  primeval  civilization  of  our 
race,  iii.  125  ;  sufficient  for  belief,  found 
in  the  Bible,  ii.  665 ;  of  Christianity, 
strong  enough  to  convince  Sir  Isaac 
Newton,  iii.  472. 

Evidences  of  the  gospel  sufficient  to  win 
belief,  ii.  484. 

Evils  of  slavery  to  be  ameliorated  and 
abated,  iii.  583. 

Example  of  Washington,  its  influence  on 
mankind,  iii.  235,  258. 

Examples  of  the  power  of  prejudice  cited, 
iii.  214. 

Exchange  of  pulpits,  the  true  rule  for,  ii. 
366,  iii.  451. 

Excuses,  inconsistent,  of  those  who  neg¬ 
lect  the  gospel,  ii.  516,  719. 

Executive  proclaimed  a  co-ordinate  branch 
of  the  legislature,  iii.  341. 

Executive  Veto  should  be  abolished,  iii. 
344. 

Exhortation  to  sinners  to  accept  of  salva- 


694 


INDEX. 


tion,  ii.  531 ;  to  half-believing  Chris¬ 
tians,  556. 

Existence  of  man’s  savage  state  accounted 
for,  iii.  S3. 

Expense,  comparative,  of  prisons  and 
colleges,  i.  249 ;  enormous,  exacted  by 
fashion,  501:  of  vice  and  crime,  great, 
iii.  492. 

Exploring  Expedition,  an  ancient,  iii.  167. 

Experiment ,  the  true  criterion  in  personal 
religion,  ii.  401,-  of  self-government, 
the  grand  problem  in  America  now 
solving,  i.  199. 

Expostulation,  earnest,  with  the  uncon¬ 
verted,  ii.  720. 

Extension  of  slavery  into  new  territory, 
effect  of,  iii.  569. 

External  Duties  not  sufficient  in  religion, 

ii.  102. 

Extraordinary  Men  raised  up  for  extraor¬ 
dinary  times,  iii.  249. 

Extremes  in  social  condition  no  disproof 
of  civilization,  iii.  134. 

F 

Fa, hies  of  Titans  and  Giants,  their  origin, 

iii.  128. 

Facts,  most  important,  recorded  by  Moses, 

i.  66 ;  illustrative  of  the  superiority  of 
Christians  over  Pagans,  ii.  136,  137; 
intelligible  to  man  when  their  nature 
is  not  fully  understood,  640,  641 ;  many 
mysterious,  both  in  nature  and  revela¬ 
tion,  642 ;  must  be  received  on  evidence, 
however  mysterious,  653  ;  doctrinal,  of 
the  Bible,  bow  established,  667 ;  the 
essence  distinguished  from  the  mode  of, 
670,  676;  mentioned  by  Moses,  their 
disproof  of  a  savage  state  at  the  first, 
iii.  99;  important,  on  the  population 
of  the  ancient  world,  177-179. 

Faculty,  of  the  Nashville  University,  i. 
376;  of  the  University  of  Berlin,  403  ;  of 
philosophy  in  Germany,  its  import,  403. 

Faculties,  of  Law,  Medicine,  and  Theology 
in  universities,  i.  400 ;  of  German  uni¬ 
versities,  402 ;  of  the  University  of  New 
York,  420. 

Faculties,  in  man,  the  means  and  sources 
of  knowledge,  ii.  664. 

Fairs  for  benevolence  deceptive  and  inju¬ 
rious,  iii.  599. 

Faith  in  Christ  essential  to  salvation,  ii. 
127,  681;  as  a  principle,  must  supply 
the  lack  of  knowledge,  ii.  456;  the 
mainspring  of  Christian  practice,  570  ; 
not  required  in  the  Bible  without  suf¬ 
ficient  evidence,  665 ;  the  doctrine  of 
justification  by,  687  :  nature  and  object 
of  all-saving,  iii.  450,  451. 

Faithful  Minister  of  the  gospel,  his  cha¬ 
racter  described,  ii.  269 ;  his  duties  and 
aims,  304-308;  a  rich  blessing  to  any 
people,  658. 


Fall  of  man  in  Eden,  its  fatal  conse¬ 
quences,  ii.  530,  iii.  103. 

False  Estimates  of  God’s  service,  ii. 
124. 

False  Prophets  in  the  Christian  Church, 

ii.  309. 

False  Religions  better  than  none,  ii.  109. 

False  Teachers  of  the  gospel,  numerous 
and  dangerous,  ii.  488. 

Fanaticism,  religious,  its  power,  iii.  496. 

Fanatics  and  Agitators  of  New  England, 
i.  510. 

Farewell  Sermon  of  Dr.  Lindsley,  at 
Princeton,  ii.  249,  299. 

Farewell  Address  of  Washington,  its  cha¬ 
racter,  iii.  229. 

Farmers,  their  advantages,  i.  124;  should 
be  educated,  224;  the  sovereigns  of  the 
country,  225;  have  leisure  for  study, 
227 ;  the  best  officials,  488. 

Farmers  and  Mechanics,  need  more  than 
a  primary  education,  i.  197 ;  should 
have  collegiate  culture,  224,  225;  their 
cause  pleaded,  349  ;  too  much  governed 
by  lawyers,  349  ;  their  honourable  call¬ 
ing,  350 ;  should  be  regarded  as  peers 
and  judges,  iii.  275;  often  deceived  by 
demagogues,  278  ;  a  hint  to,  316;  their 
veto  invoked,  346;  their  interests  pro¬ 
moted  by  a  tariff,  391 ;  what  they  should 
aim  at,  394 ;  the  classes  producing  emi¬ 
nent  men,  395;  important  counsels  to, 
395. 

Farmers  and  Mechanics  of  Tennessee  able, 
if  they  would,  to  educate  their  children, 

iii.  271. 

Farmers,  Mechanics,  and  Schoolmasters, 
three  most  ancient  and  useful  classes, 
iii.  267,  273;  th§ir  spheres  defined  and 
described,  272. 

Fashion,  the  universal  sway  of,  i.  186  ;  its 
grinding  tyranny,  501;  its  fatal  power 
in  leading  to  drunkenness,  iii.  508. 

Fashionable  Gentleman,  a  picture  of,  i.  190. 

Fashionable  Religion  may  be  a  most  fatal 
error,  ii.  363. 

Fashionable  Vices,  their  prevalence  in 
society,  ii.  314. 

Fatal  Mistahe  of  the  British  Parliament 
in  taxing  America,  iii.  246. 

Fate  of  other  republics  no  criterion  for 
ours,  iii.  245. 

Fathers  of  the  Christian  Church,  learned 
men,  ii.  46 ;  their  testimony  on  church 
government,  iii.  404. 

Fathers,  our  gallant  American,  proofs  of 
their  prowess,  iii.  232;  nature’s  noble¬ 
men,  243  ;  learned  the  art  of  govern¬ 
ment  in  the  school  of  experience,  244; 
republican  and  self-governed  from  the 
first,  244;  a  libel  to  say  they  were  ever 
enslaved,  245;  their  conservative  and 
patriotic  character,  406. 

Faust,  Franklin,  and  Columbus  referred 
to,  ii.  418. 


INDEX. 


G95 


Favour  of  God  secured  by  the  death  of 
Christ,  ii.  705. 

Fear  of  God  the  true  source  of  moral 
courage,  i.  170. 

Fearful  Peril  to  the  American  Union  in 
1832,  i.  336. 

Federal  Constitution ,  how  interpreted,  iii. 
317. 

Federal  Government,  its  deficiencies,  iii. 
302;  who  are  bound  by  it,  303;  more 
monarchical  than  that  of  England,  328; 
reasons  for  this  opinion,  329;  its  rela¬ 
tion  to  a  national  bank,  369  ;  ought  to 
protect  home  industry,  385  ;  calculated 
for  indefinite  expansion,  562. 

Federalist,  a  commentary  on  the  Consti¬ 
tution,  iii.  318,  341. 

Federalists  and  Republicans,  the  original 
parties,  iii.  331. 

Federative  Republic,  nature  of  the  Ame¬ 
rican,  iii.  254. 

Fellenberg,  his  labours  at  Hofwyl,  to 
educate  the  poor,  i.  94,  his  system  ap¬ 
plied  to  American  youth,  96. 

Fellowships  in  English  universities,  the 
benefits  of,  i.  402. 

Female  Sex,  degradation  of,  in  Grecian 
and  Itoman  republics,  iii.  468;  exalted 
to  their  proper  rank  by  the  Bible,  490. 

Fenelon,  referred  to,  as  an  example  of 
suffering  wrongfully,  ii.  282  ;  as  a  writer 
on  education,  i.  522. 

Ferguson,  Adam,  referred  to,  i.  441,  iii. 
92,  396. 

Fermented  Liquors,  their  bearing  on  the 
temperance  cause,  iii.  529 ;  their  use  as 
a  beverage,  how  regulated,  534. 

Fidelity,  required  of  all  Christ’s  ministers, 
ii.  632  ;  how  best  exhibited,  643. 

Finances,  every  thing  in  a  State  depend¬ 
ent  on  the  administration  of,  iii.  334. 

Finite  Creature,  incapable  of  an  infinite 
work,  ii.  690. 

Finley,  Rev.  Robert,,  referred  to  as  a 
teacher,  iii.  11. 

Fires  of  persecution  cannot  keep  the 
church  pure,  iii.  4S2. 

First  Colleges  in  America,  their  alumni 
patriots,  i.  211. 

First  Impressions,  Dr.  Lindsley’s,  of  Gene¬ 
ral  Washington,  iii.  234. 

First  Occupation  of  man  in  Eden  me¬ 
chanical,  iii.  265. 

Fletcher,  Andrew,  quoted  on  patriot¬ 
ism,  iii.  554. 

Folly  of  rejecting  the  salvation  of  the 
gospel  demonstrated,  i.  165,  ii.  717. 

Fools  and  Witlings  reproved,  ii.  240. 

Force  of  Truth,  Scott’s,  quoted  on  the 
power  of  prejudice,  iii.  215. 

Forefathers,  American,  their  objects  in 
coming  to  the  New  World,  iii.  232; 
their  regard  for  the  Bible,  469. 

Foreign  Beggars,  their  modes  of  living  in 
our  country,  iii.  608. 


|  Foreign  Competition,  effect  of  excluding, 

j  on  manufactures,  iii.  387. 

I  Foreign  Immigrants  to  this  country  all 
become  Anglo-American,  iii.  562. 

Foreign  Missions  a  remedy  for  party  feuds 

j  in  the  church,  ii.  435. 

Foreigners,  their  influence  as  to  our  gov¬ 
ernment,  iii.  312. 

Formality,  effects  of,  in  the  church,  ii.  712. 

Forms,  of  Christianity,  three  distinct,  iii. 
427  ;  of  civilization,  diversified  by  ages 
and  countries,  135  ;  of  church  govern¬ 
ment,  not  essential  to  salvation,  ii.  336; 
insufficient  to  keep  out  error,  iii.  404 ; 
not  discussed  in  the  New  Testament, 
489. 

Founders  of  Princeton  Theological  Semi¬ 
nary,  eulogium  on,  ii.  75. 

Fourth  of  July,  orators  produced  by,  iii. 
312. 

Four  Years  too  long  for  a  Presidential 
term  of  office,  iii.  345. 

France,  education  in.  i.  243;  her  experi¬ 
ment  of  abolishing  the  Sabbath,  ii.  109; 
civilized,  despite  the  ignorance  of  the 
masses,  iii.  134 ;  her  example  shows 
the  danger  of  attacking  all  religious 
prejudices,  194. 

Franklin,  Benjamin,  his  example  as  a 
mechanic,  i.  124;  his  labours  in  the 
cause  of  education,  141;  never  forgot 
the  poor  mechanic,  269;  his  efforts  to 
diffuse  useful  knowledge,  286  ;  referred 
to,  with  other  great  discoverers,  ii.  417, 
iii.  36,  238,  282,  396. 

Franklin  and  Washington,  what  they 
might  have  been  without  education,  i. 
436  ;  where  and  how  they  studied,  43"; 
both  liberally  educated,  after  all,  437. 

Frederick  the  Great  referred  to,  i.  317, 
ii.  135. 

Free  Agency  of  man,  a  matter  of  con¬ 
sciousness,  ii.  528;  consistent  with  God’s 
government,  673. 

Free  Banks,  the  State  system  of,  bound 
to  fail,  iii.  549;  objections  to,  584; 
number  and  basis  of  those  in  Indiana, 
585. 

Freedom  and  Slavery,  relation  of  the 
colored  race  to,  iii.  583. 

Freedom  of  opinion  and  speech,  secured 
by  the  American  Revolution,  iii.  254; 
how  limited,  308. 

Free  Government  maintained  only  by 
knowledge  and  virtue,  i.  74. 

Freemasonry  a  burden  on  the  labouring 
classes,  iii.  598. 

Free  Negroes,  questions  as  to  their  con¬ 
dition  and  destin}r,  iii.  581. 

Free  Trade,  theory  and  practice  of,  iii. 
382 ;  necessary  between  States  of  the 
Union,  387;  to  be  universal,  must  be 
international,  383;  compared  with  a 
tariff  policy,  559. 

Frelingiiuysen,  Hon.  Theodore,  re- 


696 


INDEX. 


ferred  to,  iii.  13;  letter  of,  respecting 
Dr.  Lindsley,  20. 

F rench  Colonies  in  America,  cause  of  their 
difference  from  the  English,  i.  314. 

French  Revolution ,  by  whom  originated, 
i.  451. 

Friends,  or  Quakers,  their  church  govern¬ 
ment,  iii.  403. 

Friends  of  Liberty,  should  he  advocates 
of  the  Bible,  iii.  469 ;  appealed  to,  in 
behalf  of  the  Bible,  470. 

Friendship  not  a  delusion,  its  nature  and 
value,  ii.  294. 

Fugitive  Slave  Law,  remarks  on,  iii.  582. 

Full-grown  Infancy  not  man’s  original 
state,  iii.  112. 

Fulton,  Robert,  referred  to,  iii.  396. 

Funds  of  Colleges  perverted  or  withheld, 

i.  351. 

Funeral,  services  at  Dr.  Lindsley’s,  iii. 
75,  76. 

Future  Punishment,  like  future  reward, 
must  be  eternal,  ii.  492 ;  so  because  sin 
is  eternal,  689-691;  influence  of  the 
doctrine  of,  iii.  485. 

G 

Gallatin,  Albert,  referred  to,  iii.  327. 

Galileo,  and  others,  illustrating  the 
benefits  of  hard  study,  i.  447,  ii.  239. 

Gamaliels  of  ancient  Egypt,  and  modern 
pedagogues,  iii.  149. 

Gambling,  compared  with  gaming,  i.  191; 
its  horrible  effects,  191 ;  different  kinds  of, 
294;  licensed  establishments  for,  iii.  391. 

Gaul  and  Scythia  early  subdued  by  the 
gospel,  ii.  704. 

Gebelin,  work  of,  on  the  primitive  state 
of  mankind,  iii.  88. 

General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  a  divine  institution,  iii.  400; 
its  capacity  for  judicial  business,  441 : 
time  of  its  continuance  in  session,  430  : 
a  commission  of,  proposed,  440 ;  some 
changes  necessary,  443;  one  supreme 
court  of  appellate  jurisdiction  suggested, 
444. 

General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  1834,  its  parties,  iii.  46  ;  in 
1855,  action  on  the  death  of  Dr.  Linds- 
ley,  68. 

General  Assemblies,  Presbyterian,  con¬ 
servative  character  of,  iii.  435. 

General  Learning,  a  wide  range  of,  de¬ 
sirable,  i.  108. 

General  Inspiration  of  the  Scriptures, 
what  it  means,  ii.  666. 

Geneva,  the  University  of,  i.  413;  pre¬ 
paratory  school  at,  415. 

Genevan  System  of  education  described, 
i.  414. 

Genius,  illustrations  of  its  attributes,  i. 
617  ;  its  aims,  618  ;  unavailing  without 
study,  ii.  17S. 


Genteel  Beggars,  article  on,  iii.  607. 

Gentleman,  different  views  of  what  consti¬ 
tutes,  i.  190. 

Geologist,  object  of  the,  i.  627. 

Genuine  Divinity  learned  only  from  the 
Scriptures,  iii.  206. 

German  Divine  quoted  on  educated  men, 
i.  527. 

German  Universities,  i.  243 ;  description 
of,  402,  403 ;  honours  and  emoluments 
of  their  professors,  404 ;  their  discipline 
not  for  boys,  but  men,  405. 

Germany,  the  cotters  of,  i.  241;  effects  of 
literature  in,  452 ;  Christian  missions 
of,  ii.  430;  highly  educated,  but  not 
the  freest  country  of  Europe,  iii.  240. 

Gerry,  Elbridge,  his  opinion  on  a  na¬ 
tional  bank,  iii.  352. 

Gibbon,  Edward,  his  tribute  to  the 
purity  of  the  early  Christians,  iii.  472  : 
his  Decline  and  Fall  of  the  Roman  Em¬ 
pire  quoted,  473;  referred  to,  ISO. 

Gibbs,  Alphonso,  referred  to,  i.  363. 

Gillespie,  Rev.  George,  in  the  West¬ 
minster  Assembly,  iii.  432. 

Giving,  in  the  spirit  of  charity,  never  im¬ 
poverishes,  iii.  475;  freely,  the  essence 
of  the  gospel,  480. 

Glory,  of  God,  the  supreme  object  of 
the  Christian,  ii.  578;  of  English 
history,  belongs  equally  to  America,  ii. 
230. 

Gnats  and  Camels,  political  and  demo¬ 
cratic,  iii.  342,  343. 

Gnostic  Heresies,  origin  of,  iii.  200. 

God,  the  source  of  all  good  influences,  i. 
1 18 ;  absolute  authority  of  his  com¬ 
mands,  ii.  103;  to  be  remembered  in 
youth,  123  ;  his  moral  character  worthy 
of  our  love,  125,  126;  must  be  served 
according  to  his  gospel,  127;  his  wis¬ 
dom  displayed  in  the  work  of  redemp¬ 
tion,  200  ;  his  service  incompatible  with 
that  of  Mammon,  226  :  his  paramount 
claims  to  our  service,  252 ;  the  only 
source  of  pure  felicity,  263 ;  supreme 
object  of  our  lives,  275;  his  government 
a  source  of  encouragement  in  labour,  ii. 
461  ;  not  the  author  of  sin,  according  to 
Calvinism,  360,  672  ;  his  purposes  un¬ 
fathomable  to  us,  388;  the  creator  of 
the  universe,  672 ;  his  providence  over 
all  things,  673  ;  his  testimony  must  be 
accredited,  679  ;  a  Spirit,  infinite  and 
eternal,  680  ;  as  Father  and  Son,  rela¬ 
tion  between,  682;  as  eternal  creator 
and  eternal  cause,  683 ;  his  omnipre¬ 
sence  a  restraint  on  crime,  iii.  487 ;  our 
personal  accountability  to,  502. 

Godfrey,  Hadley,  and  Newton  referred 
to,  iii.  418. 

Gorman  and  Hume,  referred  to,  ii.  135. 

Giethe,  remark  of,  on  the  acquiring  of 
languages,  iii.  556. 


INDEX. 


697 


Goguet,  his  Origin  of  Laws,  Arts,  and 
Sciences,  iii.  88. 

Golden  Aye,  none  on  earth  since  the  fall 
in  Eden,  ii.  505;  of  fiction,  solved  by 
Moses,  iii.  102. 

Gold,  its  loss  by  sweating,  iii.  371,  373. 

Gold  and  Silver ,  only  legitimate  basis  of 
banking,  iii.  549,  585;  its  loss  by  cir¬ 
culation  unfits  it  for  currency,  550. 

Good  Advice  for  mechanics  and  farmers, 

i.  348. 

Good  Men  must  always  suffer  persecution, 

ii.  283. 

Goodness,  genuine,  in  what  it  consists,  i. 
175. 

Gordian  Knot,  must  be  cut  when  it  can¬ 
not  be  untied,  iii.  106,  385. 

Gospel  of  Christ,  requires  a  spirit  of 
purity,  peace,  and  love,  i.  174;  its  con¬ 
solations  needed  in  life,  275;  not  a  foe 
to  thrift  and  industry,  ii.  34;  not  de¬ 
rogatory  to  the  law  of  God,  87 ;  its  in¬ 
fluence  on  man’s  character  and  destiny, 
133;  favourable  to  patriotism  and  love 
of  country,  147  ;  friendly  to  the  inte¬ 
rests  of  communities,  148  ;  gains  nothing 
by  its  friends  compromising  with  the 
world,  220  ;  its  promises  and  rewards 
secure,  233  ;  its  adaptation  to  man  as  a 
sinner,  391;  its  teachings,  405,  479; 
early  perversion  of,  429;  an  adequate 
remedy  for  sinners,  479 ;  its  proffered 
blessings,  480 ;  demands  the  closest 
scrutiny,  483  ;  evidences  of  its  divinity, 
484;  distinguished  by  its  sublime  mys¬ 
teries,  037;  force  of  its  truths,  018;  its 
great  salvation  needed  by  all,  695; 
what  it  includes  as  a  remedy  for  sin, 
096 ;  no  escape  for  the  neglecters  of  it, 
690  ;  corrupted  by  Greek  and  Roman 
philosophy,  iii.  200 ;  early  obstacles 
overcome  by,  201;  rejected  by  some 
because  of  the  persecuting  spirit  of  its 
professed  disciples,  211 ;  free  from  rites 
and  ceremonies  in  the  Jewish  sense, 
402 ;  its  success  under  the  labours  of 
the  apostles,  460  ;  its  diversified  pro¬ 
gress  since  the  Reformation,  401 ;  the 
only  protector  of  the  female  sex,  490  ; 
its  spirit  repugnant  to  any  monopoly 
of  blessings,  479,  501 ;  must  be  imparted 
to  others,  or  else  its  blessings  will  be 
lost,  480. 

Gospel  Ministry,  chief  qualifications  of,  ii. 
22  ;  great  importance  of,  40  ;  the  main 
pillar  of  society,  63 ;  essential  to  the 
stability  of  government,  63  ;  depository 
of  die  learning:  of  ages,  63;  its  grand 
w  ).•!:  an  1  dm,  8  1. 

Got  hie- English  system  of  bench-made 
law,  i.  223. 

G  >fks  and  Vandals,  why  they  do  not  still 
overrun  Europe,  iii.  237. 

Government  of  God.  over  all  things,  ii. 
439 ;  universal  and  particular,  combined, 


441-444;  a  cause  of  joy  to  good  men, 
|  447. 

Government,  all  human,  ordained  of  God, 

iii.  449 ;  needs  the  influence  of  the 
Sabbath,  ii.  110  ;  heathen,  not  interfered 
with  by  the  apostles,  iii.  489  :  free  civil, 
how  maintained,  i.  74;  ought  to  pro¬ 
vide  for  the  education  of  the  poor,  234. 

Government,  American  Federal,  the  crea¬ 
ture  of  the  people,  iii.  274,  276;  dan¬ 
gerous  innovations  in,  329;  need  of 
reform,  281 ;  though  democratic,  may 
be  tyrannical,  312 ;  a  privileged  creditor, 
320  ;  its  inherent  right  to  charter  banks, 
336 ;  right  to  make  internal  improve¬ 
ments,  338;  what  it  can  do  for  the  peo¬ 
ple,  354;  tested  by  the  character  of  the 
people,  355;  the  best  system  defined, 
358  ;  any  systematic  policy  better  than 
irregularity,  358  ;  cannot  create  money 
out  of  nothing  by  banks,  359 ;  its  rela¬ 
tion  to  a  sound  paper  currency,  370 ; 
its  paper  better  than  a  national  bank, 
373;  made  economical  by  a  tariff  on 
consumption,  373 ;  should  protect  home 
industry,  385  ;  how  it  may  be  destroyed, 
256,  257. 

Government  of  the  church,  the  best  system 
of,  iii.  402;  the  Judicious  Hooker  on, 
403;  divine  forms  of,  403;  details  of, 
not  stated  in  the  New  Testament,  404; 
the  fundamental  principles  of,  404. 

Government  of  colleges,  the  essential  ele¬ 
ments  of,  i.  110,  112,  114. 

Graces  of  the  Spirit  partially  possessed 
by  Christians,  ii.  395. 

Graduates  of  American  colleges,  their 
high  character,  i.  331 ;  English  and 
American,  their  comparative  advance¬ 
ment,  401  ;  of  the  University  of  Nash¬ 
ville,  54;  number  living  in  1834,  363 ; 
their  modesty,  572 ;  number  of,  at  the 
university,  569. 

Graduating  Classes,  addresses  to,  i.  268, 
357. 

Grammar  Schools  in  England,  i.  102. 

Grand  Heresy  about  education,  its  origin, 
i.  226. 

Gratitude,  definition  of.  iii.  563. 

Gratuitous  Education  never  highly  prized, 
iii.  565. 

Gravitation,  the  fact  of,  used  to  illustrate 
Scripture  mysteries,  ii.  641. 

Great  Britain,  effect  of  her  policy  towards 
the  American  colonies,  iii.  233. 

Great  Characters  in  history,  formed  on 
Bible  principles,  ii.  135,  136;  their  in¬ 
debtedness  to  seminaries  of  learning,  i. 
343  ;  in  America,  mostly  from  the  ranks 
of  the  poor,  394. 

Greatness ,  the  foundation  of  true,  laid  in 
youth,  ii.  146  ;  of  the  gospel  method  of 
salvation,  69S. 

Great  Salvation,  a  sermon  on  the,  ii.  701 ; 
how  secured,  720. 


698 


INDEX. 


Great  University,  ought  to  include  all  pro-  j 
fessional  education,  i.  401 ;  one  for  each 
American  State  needed,  406. 

Grecian  Sages,  in  what  schools  they 
graduated,  iii.  134  :  why  they  went  to 
school  in  Egypt,  148. 

Greece,  effects  of  learning  in  modern,  i. 
461. 

Greece  and  Rome,  morals  and  religion  of 
ancient,  ii.  419;  their  people  strangers 
to  true  liberty,  iii.  467 ;  idolized  liberty 
as  a  phantom  to  fight  for,  468 ;  degraded 
the  female  sex,  468 ;  at  best,  turbulent 
aristocracies,  469. 

Greeks  and  Romans,  their  moralists  desti¬ 
tute  of  true  knowledge,  ii.  421 ;  their 
historians  on  man’s  primeval  state,  iii. 
119 ;  behind  the  Orientals  in  navigation, 
169;  used  too  often  as  a  standard  to 
measure  all  ancient  nations  by,  184; 
education  of  the  people  among,  i.  72, 
521 ;  their  schools  and  gymnasia,  89,  91. 

Greeks,  degeneracy  of,  i.  69 ;  not  the 
originators  of  civilization,  iii.  110; 
once  fierce  and  untamed  barbarians, 
111;  of  the  heroic  ages,  how  civilized, 
121 ;  indebted  to  foreign  aid  for  their 
culture,  123;  largely  to  Egypt  for 
letters,  arts,  and  philosophy,  127,  141, 
142. 

Green,  Dr.  Ashbel,  referred  to,  iii.  23; 
his  presidency  of  Nassau  Hall,  437. 

Greenwood  Seminary  referred  to,  i.  31. 

Grindall,  Archbishop,  not  a  persecutor, 
iii.  415. 

Guilt  of  sin,  transcends  human  thought, 

ii.  681 ;  aggravated  by  rejecting  the 
gospel,  702 ;  measured  by  privileges 
abused,  703. 

II 

Ha, bit,  of  reflection,  must  be  cultivated  in 
youth,  i.  282 ;  of  intemperance,  gradu¬ 
ally  formed,  iii.  521. 

Habitual  Drinking  of  ardent  spirits  makes 
drunkards,  iii.  533. 

Habitual  Use  of  fermented  liquors,  how 
estimated  in  Scripture,  iii.  531. 

Hale,  Sir  Matthew,  referred  to,  iii.  324. 

Hale’s  Analysis  of  Chronology  cited,  iii. 
131. 

Hall,  Allan  A.,  his  tribute  to  the  genius 
and  character  of  Dr.  Lindsley,  iii.  73. 

Hall,  Edwin,  his  work  on  the  Puritans' 
and  their  principles,  iii.  414. 

Hall,  Rev.  Robert,  his  catholic  spirit, 

iii.  207. 

Halley,  the  astronomer,  reproved  by  Sir 
Isaac  Newton,  iii.  472. 

IIa  m,  his  curse,  in  the  savage  races  of 
America  and  Africa,  iii.  187;  remark¬ 
able  doom  of  his  posterity,  163. 

Hamilton,  Alexander,  referred  to,  iii. 
323,  327;  his  financial  policy,  334; 


able  expounder  of  the  Constitution, 
341,  342. 

Hamilton,  Professor  James,  referred 
to,  i.  595,  596,  iii.  52. 

Hammond,  with  other  learned  divines, 
referred  to,  ii.  47. 

Hampden,  Sidney,  Russel,  labours  of, 
in  the  cause  of  liberty,  i.  284. 

Happiness,  secured  only  in  God’s  service, 

ii.  128-130  ;  unattainable  by  the  vota¬ 
ries  of  this  world,  262 ;  on  what  terms 
offered  in  the  gospel,  702. 

Harrison,  General,  referred  to,  iii.  278. 

Harvard  University ,  revenue  of,  i.  216; 
number  of  professors  and  tutors  in,  416  ; 
like  Yale  and  Nassau  Hall,  founded  by 
Calvinists,  iii.  434;  names  of  men  im¬ 
mortalized  in,  i.  159. 

Hazael,  the  example  of,  cited,  iii.  353. 

Heads,  of  families,  their  responsibility 
under  God’s  law,  ii.  S9  ;  of  departments 
in  the  government,  should  be  indejiend- 
ent,  iii.  328. 

Heart  of  man,  its  wickedness  disclosed, 

iii.  488. 

Heat  and  Cold,  alternations  of,  in  Ten¬ 
nessee,  iii.  626. 

Heathen,  all  of  one  depraved  character  by 
nature,  ii.  618  ;  their  philosophy,  teach¬ 
ings  of,  287 ;  their  sages,  contrasted 
with  Christian,  136. 

Heathen  Nations  contrasted  with  Chris¬ 
tian,  iii.  481. 

Heaven  of  the  Bible  described,  ii.  118. 

Heavenly  Wisdom,  what  it  promises  and 
secures,  ii.  201;  how  attained,  712. 

Heliopolis,  the  Egyptian  seat  of  sun- 
worship,  iii.  142. 

Hell,  sin  constitutes,  ii.  383. 

Helplessness  of  man  as  a  sinner,  and  his 
remedy,  ii.  520,  687. 

Henderson,  Alexander,  in  the  West¬ 
minster  Assembly,  iii.  432. 

Henderson,  Dr.,  his  testimony  on  educa¬ 
tion  in  Iceland,  i.  518. 

Henry  the  Eighth,  made  himself  Pope 
of  England,  iii.  416,  430  ;  never  a  true 
Protestant,  416;  his  policy  of  burning 
and  hanging,  416. 

Hercules  and  the  Wagoner  referred  to,  iii. 
275. 

Heresy,  on  the  subject  of  education,  i.  226; 
in  the  English  legal  sense,  unknown  in 
our  country,  423;  what  it  is  in  the 
Church  of  Rome,  424. 

Heresies  in  the  early  church,  cause  of,  iii. 

202. 

Hero  of  New  Orleans  at  Nashville  Uni¬ 
versity,  i.  158. 

Herodotus,  on  the  primitive  state  of  man, 
iii.  90 ;  testimony  as  to  early  civilized 
nations,  124;  opinion  as  to  the  an¬ 
tiquity  of  the  Egyptians,  127;  witness 
as  to  the  ruins  of  the  tower  of  Babel,  107  ; 
testimony  as  to  the  wisdom  of  Egypt,  i. 


INDEX. 


699 


139,  140;  his  account  of  Croesus  and 
Solon,  ii.  222. 

Heterodox  Churches  not  to  be  converted 
by  denunciation,  iii.  452. 

IIetherington,  his  History  of  the  Church 
of  Scotland  referred  to,  iii.  411,  431, 
441,  446;  quoted,  414,  415,  431. 

Heyne,  his  seminary  at  Gottingen,  i.  103. 

Hierarchy,  Romish,  the  most  crafty  con¬ 
trivance  of  Satan,  iii.  422. 

High  Churchism ,  arrogant  claims  of,  iii. 
410  ;  how  it  should  be  dealt  with,  411. 

High  Life  in  America,  its  absurd  preten¬ 
sions,  i.  189. 

Highway  Robbery  diminished  by  the  use 
of  paper  money,  iii.  372. 

Hint  to  the  Easterns,  an  article,  iii.  636. 

History,  all  human,  founded  on  testimony, 

ii.  677;  of  man  in  all  nations,  a  record 
of  his  depravity,  506,  508;  argument 
from,  on  the  primeval  state  of  man,  iii. 
119,  125  ;  knows  no  period  when  all 
men  were  savages,  151  ;  early,  of  Greece, 
why  so  fabulous,  122;  stream  of  civil¬ 
ized,  how  traced,  110  ;  of  England,  part 
and  parcel  of  American  glory,  230  ;  of 
the  past  century,  its  grand  character¬ 
istics,  236  ;  of  Christianity,  the  history 
of  learning,  ii.  47 ;  of  collegiate  or 
university  education,  343,  435 ;  of  the 
church,  a  proof  of  man’s  depravity,  507. 

Historians,  the  earliest,  testify  of  a  pre¬ 
ceding  civilization,  iii.  124. 

Historic  Character  of  ages  and  nations 
depends  on  the  educated  few,  iii.  134. 

Hobbes  and  other  infidel  writers  referred 
to,  i.  152. 

Hodge,  Dr.  Charles,  his  History  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  iii.  438-440;  ad¬ 
vocates  a  commission  of  the  General 
Assembly,  440. 

Hofwyl,  Fellen berg’s  school  at,  i.  83,  94; 
the  rich  and  the  poor  educated  at,  94. 

Holiness,  indissolubly  connected  with 
happiness,  ii.  583;  of  life,  required  in 
the  Scriptures,  iii.  488. 

Holy  Scriptures,  the  duty  of  circulating,  ! 

iii.  459,  480. 

Holy  Spirit,  the  special  work  of,  ii.  513  ; 
communications  of,  585;  agency  of,  es¬ 
sential  to  salvation,  649,  712  ;  in  regene¬ 
ration  and  sanctification,  687. 

Home  the  source  of  morality  to  children, 
i.  381. 

Home  Education,  Dr.  Lindsley’s  views  of, 
i.  40;  the  economy  of,  136;  its  great 
importance,  144;  the  best  policy  for 
Tennessee,  220  ;  the  custom  of  under¬ 
valuing,  iii.  603. 

Home  Products  ought  to  be  protected  by 
a  tariff,  iii.  379. 

II  omer,  his  characteristic  of  man,  iii.  96. 

Honest  Clergy,  their  influence  for  time 
and  eternity,  ii.  63,  64. 

Honest  Man,  the  true  king  of  men,  iii. 


270;  in  office,  must  be  dealt  with  as  if 
a  rogue,  325. 

Honours  and  Rewards,  the  effect  of,  i.  46. 

Hook,  Dr.,  quoted  on  episcopal  claims, 
iii.  410. 

Hooker,  Richard,  the  Judicious,  quoted, 
iii.  402 ;  his  Ecclesiastical  Polity,  403 ; 
why  written,  413;  no  advocate  of  Pu- 
seyite  views,  412  ;  design  of  his  treatise, 
413  ;  his  doctrine  of  church  power,  413 ; 
in  what  sense  called  “judicious,”  413. 

Hopeless  Condition  of  those  who  neglect 
the  gospel,  ii.  701. 

Horace,  the  Roman  poet,  on  man’s 
primeval  condition,  ii.  86,  554. 

Horrid  Robbery,  article  on,  iii.  643. 

Horrors  of  drunkenness  depicted,  iii.  522. 

Horse-Racing,  the  worst  species  of  gam¬ 
bling,  i.  501;  views  of  the  sages  of 
Christendom  on,  ii.  314. 

Horsley,  Bishop,  advice  of,  to  those 
who  denounce  Calvinism,  ii.  359. 

Horticulture,  man’s  first  employment  in 
Eden,  iii.  98 ;  never  the  occupation  of 
savages,  98. 

Hostility  to  theological  seminaries,  its 
source,  ii.  55. 

House  of  Commons,  British,  why  omnipo¬ 
tent,  iii.  329. 

House  of  Lords,  the  British,  iii.  285. 

Howell,  James,  letter  of,  to  Sir  E. 
Knight,  iii.  218. 

Hoa'te,  Pvey.  Dr.  J.  W.,  Professor  of 
Mental  and  Moral  Science  in  University 
of  Nashville,  i.  15. 

Human  Ability  unquestionable,  ii.  673. 

Human  Conduct,  right  principles  of,  iii. 
488. 

Human  Depravity,  considered,  ii.  474;  its 
remedy,  a  sermon  on,  497;  declared  in 
Scripture,  500  ;  proved  by  history,  508; 
proved  bv  universal  experience,  510. 

Hu  man  Faculties,  the  boundary  of  the,  ii. 
421. 

Human  Family,  original  condition  of,  iii. 
81,  112. 

Human  Ignorance  never  employed  as  a 
Divine  agent,  i.  444. 

Human  Inability  considered,  ii.  687. 

Human  Knowledge  largely  derived  from 
testimony,  ii.  676,  677. 

Human  Laws,  their  injustice  to  woman, 
iii.  490. 

Human  Learning  more  needed  than  ig¬ 
norance,  iii.  434. 

Human  Liberty ,  its  obligations  to  classical 
learning,  i.  138,  139. 

Human  Nature,  as  depicted  in  the  Bible, 
ii.  505  ;  unregenerate,  described,  711; 
whence  degraded  and  how  restored,  iii. 
94. 

Human  Philosophy  a  poor  teacher  for  the 
ills  of  life,  ii.  454. 

Hannan  Race,  its  destitution  of  saving 
knowledge,  iii.  473. 


700 


INDEX. 


Human  Reason  insufficient  to  discover 
moral  truth,  ii.  422. 

Human  Sacrifices  not  tolerated  on  a  plea 
of  conscience,  iii.  426. 

Human  Systems  of  virtue,  insufficient,  ii. 
133  ;  their  perversion  of  the  gospel,  iii. 
202 ;  tendency  to  produce  rival  sects, 
205. 

Humanity  in  war  a  virtue  of  Washington’s 
character,  iii.  250. 

Hume,  David,  confessions  of,  i.  306;  his 
views  on  tolerating  sectaries,  iii.  211; 
as  a  philosopher,  ISO. 

IIume  and  Gibbon,  dangerous  doctrines 
of,  ii.  235. 

Hundred  Years,  events  of  the  past,  not 
easily  grouped,  iii.  235. 

Hunting,  the  characteristic  of  a  savage 
state,  iii.  98 ;  not  the  original  occupa¬ 
tion  of  man,  98. 

IIuss,  John,  referred  to,  iii.  430. 

Hypothesis  of  a  primeval  savage  state, 
refuted,  iii.  83,  113;  the  received,  a 
stumbling-block  to  the  learned,  184. 

I 

Iceland ,  its  university  education,  i.  418  ; 
mental  cultivation  of  the  people  of,  517; 
a  model  of  popular  education,  647. 

Idolatry  of  genius  and  learning  con¬ 
demned,  i.  164. 

Ignorance,  the  parent  of  superstition  and 
oppression,  i.  73  ;  losses  caused  by,  439 ; 
its  baneful  influence  on  society,  440 ; 
its  prevalence  among  our  people,  468 ; 
the  source  of  skepticism,  548;  of  the 
Bible,  a  source  of  error,  166 ;  not  al¬ 
lowed  by  God  in  his  ministers  under 
any  dispensation,  ii.  42 ;  cannot  be 
pleaded  as  an  excuse  for  transgression, 
191 ;  often  assumes  the  garb  of  sanctity, 
272;  often  the  cause  of  popular  revolu¬ 
tions  in  Europe,  iii.  240,  241. 

Ills  of  human  life,  their  only  remedy  in 
the  gospel,  iii.  491. 

Illustrious  Names  of  Anglo-American  his¬ 
tory,  iii.  231. 

Immanuel,  his  blood  the  price  of  salva¬ 
tion,  ii.  706. 

Immortality  of  the  soul  rests  on  Divine 
revelation,  ii.  696,  697. 

Impatience  of  control  a  characteristic  vice 
of  our  age,  i.  114. 

Impenitent  Sinners  entreated  and  warned, 
ii.  490. 

Imperfect  Rights  must  depend  on  the  con¬ 
science,  iii.  487. 

Import  Duties  for  protection,  adopted  by 
all  commercial  nations,  iii.  388. 

Impossibility  of  a  primeval  savage  state 
demonstrated,  iii.  85. 

Improvement,  intellectual  and  moral,  in 
Americi,  i.  210;  in  schools  and  col¬ 
leges,  520 ;  of  time,  a  sermon  by  Dr. 


Lindsley,  ii.  205;  of  the  negro  race  in 
America,  iii.  578,  580. 

Inability  of  the  sinner  no  excuse  for 
rejecting  the  gospel,  ii.  529. 

Inaugural  Address  of  Dr.  Lindsley,  at 
Nashville,  as  President,  i.  65;  at  New 
Albany,  as  Professor,  iii.  399. 

Incarnation  of  Christ,  in  what  sense  a 
mystery,  ii.  641. 

Income  of  the  principal  American  colleges, 
i.  216. 

Inconsistencies,  of  those  who  neglect  reli¬ 
gion,  ii.  403;  under  the  garb  of  demo¬ 
cracy,  iii.  342. 

Inconsistency,  of  those  who  condemn 
Christians,  ii.  192 ;  of  character,  de¬ 
scribed,  259. 

Inconsistent  Conduct  in  professors  of  reli¬ 
gion,  ii.  539,  540. 

Incorporation  of  a  United  States  bank 
questioned  at  first,  iii.  335. 

Incredulity  of  the  moderns  respecting  the 
ancients,  its  origin,  iii.  184. 

Independence,  American,  secured  the  sepa¬ 
ration  of  church  and  state,  iii.  422;  not 
to  be  confounded  with  liberty,  311; 
pecuniary,  commended  to  young  men, 
i.  271. 

Independent  Judiciary  suggested  for  Pres¬ 
byterian  Church  courts,  iii.  442. 

Independents,  few  of  the  old  Puritan  stock 
extant,  iii.  431. 

Indiana,  facts  respecting  the  banking 
system  of,  iii.  588. 

Indians,  American,  extermination  of,  ii. 
311;  civilized  only  by  Christian  mis¬ 
sionaries,  iii.  117  ;  why  so  distinct  from 
all  other  races,  155;  descendants  of 
Ham,  and  under  the  curse,  162  ;  cannot 
be  descended  from  the  lost  tribes  of 
Israel,  163;  probably  descended  from 
Ham,  164. 

Indian  Chief  of  the  Delawares,  his  view 
of  Christianity,  ii.  384. 

Indian  Tribes,  unjust  treatment  of,  ii.  311. 

Indolence  in  youth  reproved,  ii.  240. 

Indulgence  in  pleasure  the  ruin  of  young 
men,  ii.  172. 

Industry,  necessary  to  insure  success  in 
life,  i.  202 ;  essential  to  all  high  attain¬ 
ments,  ii.  177;  preserves  mental  and 
bodily  vigour,  179;  a  duty  incumbent 
on  all,  237 ;  necessary  to  learning  and 
usefulness,  i.  619 ;  should  not  be  taxed 
in  a  tariff,  iii.  392. 

Infancy,  much  learned  in  the  period  of,  i. 
129. 

Infant  Schools,  their  value,  i.  130. 

Inferior  Races,  in  contact  with  superior, 
the  law  of,  iii.  583. 

Infidel,  the  young,  described,  ii.  152. 

Infidel  Christianity  the  only  dangerous 
Christianity,  iii.  495. 

Infidel  Philosophy  unable  to  solve  the 
problems  of  history,  ii.  423. 


INDEX. 


701 


Infidel  Politicians  dangerous  when  leagued 
with  ecclesiastics,  iii.  495. 

Infidel  Theories  of  creation,  origin  and 
fallacy  of,  ii.  695. 

Infidelity,  intolerant  spirit  and  other  evils 
of,  i.  317  ;  much  covert,  still  in  Chris¬ 
tendom,  ii.  45 ;  masked  under  Unitarian- 
ism,  77 ;  its  objections  repeatedly  re¬ 
futed,  484;  under  the  Christian  name 
in  New  England,  713;  its  prevalence 
in  parts  of  Virginia,  714;  why  it  as¬ 
sumes  the  garb  of  Christianity,  iii.  494; 
malignant  types  of,  496;  its  intolerant 
spirit,  498. 

Infidels ,  propose  no  substitute  for  the 
Bible,  ii.  109  ;  compared  to  the  sons-in- 
law  of  Lot,  483 ;  not  to  be  treated  un¬ 
civilly,  iii.  531. 

Infinite,  a  fallacious  and  objectionable 
term  in  argument,  ii.  691. 

Influence,' of  fashion,  potent  and  destruc¬ 
tive,  i.  187;  social,  how  obtained,  371; 
of  one  bad  example  on  youth,  ii.  285; 
of  climate,  on  varieties  of  the  human 
family,  iii.  175;  moral  and  religious, 
needed  in  all  human  laws,  485. 

Ingratitude  to  public  benefactors  frequent, 

ii.  231. 

Inhabitants  of  Northern  America  and 
Europe,  their  resemblance,  iii.  173. 

Inheritance,  American,  in  the  triumphs  of 
England,  iii.  231. 

Iniquity  of  the  licensed  sale  of  strong 
drink,  iii.  537. 

Injuries  and  Wrongs  of  woman  without 
the  Bible,  iii.  490. 

Innocence  of  man  nowhere  realized  in 
history,  ii.  509. 

Innovation  not  always  improvement,  i.  300. 

Inordinate  Pursuit  of  Wealth  condemned 
in  Scripture,  iii.  589. 

Inquisition,  the  spirit  of,  not  extinct,  ii. 
315. 

Insensibility  of  men  to  the  warnings  of 
the  gospel,  ii.  290. 

Inspiration  of  Scripture,  three  degrees 
of,  ii.  666;  lowest  degree  of,  involves 
the  highest,  667. 

Instability  the  bane  of  our  national  policy, 

iii.  346. 

Installation  of  Rev.  Dr.  Edgar  at  Nash¬ 
ville,  ii.  303. 

Institutions  of  religion,  their  influence,  ii. 
117 ;  their  close  connection  with  the 
State,  iii.  420,  545. 

Instruction,  necessary  for  the  mind,  i.  70 ; 
popular,  where  to  be  found,  137;  the 
State  doctrine  of,  towards  Senators  in 
Congress,  denied,  iii.  306,  307. 

Intellectual  Power  more  than  a  match  for 
brute  force,  iii.  237. 

Intellectual  Pursuits  salutary  to  body  and 
mind,  i.  456. 

Intellectual  Training  imperfect  without 
morals  and  religion,  i.  647. 


Intelligence  and  Virtue,  found  under  ab¬ 
solute  monarchies  in  Europe,  iii.  240; 
essential  to  a  republic,  257. 

Intemperance,  estimate  of  its  evils,  i.  181 ; 
its  victims,  182;  remedies  for,  sug¬ 
gested,  183 ;  influence  of  fashion  in 
sustaining,  184;  its  dangers  to  the 
young,  185  ;  its  fearful  effects,  270,  293; 
its  peculiar  disadvantages  to  the  young, 

ii.  169,  171;  should  be  rooted  out  of 
the  church,  314;  annual  cost  of,  iii. 
491 ;  its  evils  long  seen  and  deplored 
by  good  men,  506;  its  extent  in  our 
country,  507;  its  ruin  to  society,  508  ; 
its  cure  the  greatest  discovery  of  our 
age,  509 ;  total  abstinence  the  only 
remedy,  510;  a  despotic  foe  to  man, 
513;  diseases  from,  frightful,  518,  520  ; 
its  burdens  and  losses,  525 ;  kept  up  by 
moderate  drinkin  g,  533. 

Intercourse  between  churches,  conditions 
of,  iii.  453,  455. 

Internal  Improvements,  constitutionality 
of,  iii.  338,  339. 

Intolerance,  of  the  opponents  of  church 
creeds,  ii.  345 ;  of  all  established 
churches,  318. 

Intoxication  unfrequent  in  wine-countries, 

iii.  530. 

Invention  and  Discovery,  progress  of,  in 
the  last  century,  iii.  238. 

Inventors  and  Discoverers,  eminent,  re¬ 
ferred  to,  ii.  418. 

Invitations  of  the  gospel  reasonable  and 
urgent,  ii.  406. 

Ireland,  temperance  society  in,  iii.  540. 

Irenjeus  and  other  fathers  referred  to, 
ii.  46. 

Iron,  unknown  to  savages,  iii.  99 ;  its 
early  use  disproves  a  primeval  savage 
state,  99 :  in  use  before  the  Deluge, 
118. 

Irregulars  in  college  seldom  learn  any 
thing,  i.  388. 

Irresponsible  Power  of  the  President  of 
the  United  States,  iii.  348. 

Isaac,  the  offering  of,  in  sacrifice,  ex¬ 
plained  and  vindicated,  ii.  684. 

Isaiah  quoted  on  the  ancient  supremacy 
of  Egypt,  iii.  142. 

Islands,  probable  chain  of.  between  Africa 
and  America,  iii.  154,  159. 

Israelites  commissioned  to  destroy  the 
Canaanites,  ii.  683. 

Italian  Nobleman,  account  of,  used  for 
illustration,  ii.  173. 

J 

Jackson,  Dr.  Charles,  his  letter  on  Dr. 
Troost,  i.  638. 

Jackson,  General  Andrew,  referred  to, 
i.  157,  594,  iii.  278. 

Jacob  and  Esau,  objections  in  reference 
to  their  case,  ii.  683. 


702 


INDEX. 


Jacobus,  Dr.  M.  W.,  his  minute  on  the 
death  of  Dr.  Lindsley,  iii.  08. 

Jacotot,  his  system  of  instruction,  i.  514. 

Jails,  the  worst  form  of  prisons,  i.  252; 
would  not  he  needed  if  the  Bible  had 
full  sway,  iii.  483. 

James  the  First,  the  British  Solomon, 
iii.  407 ;  his  policy  of  “  no  bishop,  no 
king,”  407;  wished  to  be  pope  as  well 
as  king,  407. 

Japan,  country  of,  used  in  illustration  of 
mysteries  in  the  Bible,  ii.  679. 

Jar  din  des  Plantes,  at  Paris,  described,  i. 
409. 

Jardine  and  Jacotot,  and  other  writers 
on  education,  i.  521. 

Jay,  his  treaty  ratified  by  a  majority  of 
one,  iii.  349. 

Jefferson,  Thomas,  his  efforts  to  esta¬ 
blish  a  university,  i.  142  ;  his  opinion 
on  simplifying  the  laws,  297 ;  his  testi¬ 
mony  to  the  ethics  of  Christianity,  313; 
his  views  on  Virginia  primary  schools, 
480  ;  his  Notes  on  Virginia  quoted,  ii. 
374;  his  remarks  on  Calvinism  and 
Presbyterians,  355;  his  political  opi¬ 
nions,  iii.  280  ;  his  policy  of  a  liberal 
construction  of  the  Constitution,  332- 
334;  founder  of  the  Democratic  and 
States’  Bights  party,  332 ;  difference 
of  his  views  when  in  and  out  of  office, 
332 ;  strict  constructionist  in  theory 
only,  333;  his  policy  liberal  and  safe, 
333  ;  his  gunboat  system,  334,  337  ;  his 
purchase  of  Louisiana,  336;  national 
road  under  his  administration,  339 ; 
held  to  the  one-term  Presidency  in 
theory,  345;  his  opinions  and  practices 
cited,  350,  351  ;  his  views  on  negro 
slavery,  669,  671. 

Jennings,  Dr.  Obadiah,  referred  to,  ii.  27. 

Jeroboam,  a  liberal  constructionist  of 
Jewish  law,  iii.  343. 

Jerome  of  Prague  referred  to,  iii.  430. 

Jesus  Christ,  the  only  mediator,  ii.  126; 
his  death  a  stupendous  fact,  680  ;  his 
pure  system  of  morality,  681,  683;  his 
eternal  Sonship,  692,  693  ;  died  to  satisfy 
the  demands  of  the  Divine  law,  704; 
the  great  theme  of  all  preaching,  iii. 
224  ;  only  Redeemer  and  friend  of  the 
poor,  489  ;  disclaimed  all  worldly  power, 
494. 

Jews,  treatment  of  the,  ii.  312 ;  their  sin 
in  rejecting  the  Messiah,  701;  their 
ancient  privileges,  701;  a  standing- 
monument  of  God’s  judgments,  702 ; 
should  not  be  prevented  from  becoming 
Christians,  iii.  426;  when  converted, 
generally  become  preachers  of  Christ, 
428;  their  exaltation  of  woman,  469; 
the  modern,  chiefly  money-lenders,  545; 
their  oppressions  by  Christians,  ii.  312. 

Jones,  Sir  William,  referred  to,  iii.  116:  j 
opinions  of,  cited,  128,  191. 


Jones,  Rev.  William,  letter  to  Catcott, 
quoted,  iii.  158. 

Johnson,  Dr.  Samuel,  his  opinion  on 
speech  as  an  invention,  iii.  95,  96 ;  his 
definition  of  patriotism,  553. 

Johnstone,  Sir  Archibald,  in  the  West¬ 
minster  Assembly,  iii.  432. 

Jortin  quoted  on  religious  persecution, 
iii.  212. 

Joseph,  honoured  in  his  Egyptian  wife, 
iii.  140  ;  why  connected  with  the  priestly 
order,  140. 

Josephus,  his  statement  as  to  Jews  slain 
by  the  Romans,  iii.  180. 

Journals,  secret,  of  the  Convention  to 
form  our  Constitution,  iii.  317  ;  literary, 
religious,  and  scientific,  their  party 
politics,  572. 

Joys  of  life,  true  estimate  of  their  value, 

ii.  217,  218. 

Judas  Iscariot  a  warning  to  nominal 
Christians,  ii.  71,  iii.  481. 

Judicial  Functions  of  the  Presbyterian 
General  Assembly  need  remodelling,  iii. 
440-442. 

Judiciary,  its  relation  to  the  other  branches 
of  government,  iii.  341 ;  how  to  secure 
a  good  one,  290. 

Judges,  their  removal  by  the  President, 

iii.  351. 

Judgment,  the  right  of  private,  as  held  by 
Protestants,  iii.  451. 

Jurisprudence,  the  Anglo-American,  needs 
improvement,  i.  296;  influence  of  the 
Bible  on  systems  of,  iii.  485. 

Jussieu  and  others  referred  to,  i.  409. 

Justice,  expense  of  the  administration  of, 
i.  295;  of  the  American  Revolution, 
admitted  by  all  men,  iii.  246. 

Justice  and  Mercy,  awful  exhibition  of,  ii. 
618. 

Justification  by  faith,  held  as  essential 
truth  by  all  the  Reformers,  ii.  348  ;  fully 
taught  in  Scripture,  687,  688;  Romish 
and  Protestant  views  of,  689. 

K 

Kennicott  and  other  Bible  students, 
i.  446. 

Kent,  Chancellor,  his  views  of  the 
Constitution  modified,  iii.  318;  quota¬ 
tions  from,  320,  323,  342. 

Kepler  and  other  astronomers,  their  dis¬ 
coveries  confirm  the  Bible,  i.  446. 

King  Alfred,  his  liberal  views  of  educa¬ 
tion,  i.  85. 

King  David,  character  of,  objected  to  by 
cavillers,  ii.  683. 

King,  IIon.  Rufus,  his  opinion  cited,  iii. 
352. 

King  of  England,  a  privileged  creditor, 
iii.  320  :  the  fountain  of  law  and  honour, 
320. 

King  of  Terrors,  the  victims  of,  ii.  216. 


INDEX. 


703 


Kingcraft  in  Scotland  in  the  reign  of 
James,  iii.  407. 

Kingdom  of  God,  essentially  spiritual,  ii. 
317  ;  promoted  by  the  downfall  of  other 
kingdoms,  451 ;  its  meaning  in  Scrip¬ 
ture,  633;  not  of  this  world,  iii.  494; 
of  the  Pharaohs,  a  highly  civilized 
state,  137;  fit  arena  for  the  display  of 
Jehovah’s  power,  138. 

Kings,  the  divine  right  of,  ii.  336. 

Kirkpatrick,  Rev.  Jacob,  D.  D.,  referred 
to,  iii.  13. 

Iaitto,  Dr.  John,  reference  to  Dr.  Linds- 
ley  in  his  Cyclopedia,  i.  32. 

Klaproth,  his  letter  to  Alexander  Hum¬ 
boldt,  iii.  169. 

Knaves  and  Hypocrites,  cannot  be  kept 
out  of  any  church,  iii.  482 ;  how  they 
contrive  to  pass  for  honest  men,  487. 

Knowledge,  the  power  of,  illustrated  in 
the  life  of  Dr.  Lindsley,  i.  55;  how  re¬ 
tained,  transmitted,  and  advanced,  71; 
the  diffusion  of,  in  ancient  Greece  and 
Rome,  72 ;  the  whole  circle  of,  unat¬ 
tainable  in  this  life,  107 ;  to  be  sought 
as  long  as  we  live,  122;  its  elevating 
influence  on  all  classes,  198  ;  the  right 
of  every  human  being  to,  199;  indis¬ 
pensable  to  the  minister  of  the  gospel, 
443 ;  necessary  to  virtue  in  a  commu¬ 
nity,  458  ;  our  duty  to  increase  it,  458  ; 
its  place  in  the  Christian  ministry,  ii. 
41,  42,  614;  to  what  it  invites  us,  238; 
the  time  for  gaining,  239 ;  an  inde¬ 
structible  inheritance  to  a  child,  239; 
every  kind  of,  worthy  of  cultivation, 
240  ;  condemned  only  by  the  ignorant, 
241 ;  of  the  world,  its  proper  value,  243  ; 
where  best  acquired,  214;  nothereditaiy, 
but  obtained  by  labour,  416 ;  of  reve¬ 
lation,  subject  to  the  conditions  of  all 
other  knowledge,  425;  speculative,  the 
insufficiency  of,  522;  of  gospel  truth, 
infinitely  precious,  654 ;  how  most  easily 
augmented,  iii.  115;  formerly  taxed  in 
England,  39 L;  should  be  sought  by 
farmers  and  mechanics,  395 ;  of  the 
American  continent,  once  possessed  by 
the  ancients,  159. 

Knox,  John,  like  Milton,  an  example  for 
students,  ii.  239. 

Kosciusko  and  other  Polish  generals  of 
the  Revolution,  i.  140. 

L 

Labour,  essential  to  success  in  life,  i.  177; 
mental,  indispensable  to  high  attain¬ 
ments,  iii.  115;  industrial,  needs  a 
market  for  its  products,  382 :  amount 
of,  in  ancient  colossal  works,  131. 

Labouring  Classes,  amusements  of,  i.  83; 
should  have  a  better  education,  225; 
their  leisure  hours  ,  often  wasted  when 
they  might  be  improved.  227 ;  their 


I  original  and  rightful  position  in  so- 
i  ciety,  269. 

i  Ladies,  appealed  to  for  the  Bible,  iii.  470, 
490;  would  be  slaves  without  its  influ¬ 
ence,  471 ;  never  appealed  to  in  vain 
for  the  suffering,  471;  their  powerful 
aid  in  the  temperance  cause,  541. 

Lafayette,  General,  referred  to,  i.  140  ; 
his  agency  in  the  French  Revolution, 
451:  on  the  liberties  of  America,  533  ; 
quotation  from,  iii.  555. 

Lamb  of  God  needed  to  atone  for  sin.  ii. 
720. 

Lancasterian  System  of  education,  i.  134; 

Land,  inexpediency  of  taxing,  i.  489; 
vast  tract  of,  submerged  in  the  Atlantic, 
iii.  159,  161;  revenue  from,  to  the 
priesthood  in  ancient  Egypt,  139;  of 
distillers  and  drunkards,  described,  508; 
of  steady  habits,  youth  ruined  in,  521. 

Land  Tax ,  when  objectionable,  iii.  392  ; 
beneficial  in  England,  393. 

Lang,  Rev.  Dr.,  liis  work  referred  to,  iii. 
162. 

Language,  the  result  of  imitation,  iii.  82  ; 
its  origin  from  God,  95;  unity  of  the 
antediluvian,  favourable  to  a  high  state 
of  civilization,  101;  diversity  of,  on 
the  plains  of  Shinar,  caused  by  miracle, 
101. 

Large  Libraries  not  needed  by  youth  in 
college,  i.  401. 

Large  Cities  the  best  for  institutions  of 
learning,  i.  258. 

Largest  Liberty ,  the  principle  of,  violated 
by  democracies,  iii.  325. 

Last  Sabbath  of  the  year,  its  solemn  les¬ 
sons  pointed  out,  ii.  207. 

Laudation  of  every  thing  American  con¬ 
demned,  iii.  312. 

Lavoisier  and  other  philosophers  re¬ 
ferred  to,  ii.  418. 

Law  of  honour,  considered,  i.  187 ;  the 
crimes  it  tolerates,  188;  no  protection 
to  women,  iii.  490. 

Law  and  Equity ,  our  S37stems  of,  expen¬ 
sive,  i.  222 ;  the  English  system  of, 
characterized,  223 ;  its  cumbrous  ma¬ 
chinery  and  inequalities,  296;  uncon¬ 
stitutional  remedies  for,  iii.  310 ;  de¬ 
scribed  as  a  science,  40  ;  construction 
of,  297. 

Law  and  Gospel,  distinction  between,  ii. 
597. 

Jjaw,  of  God,  its  authority  and  extent,  ii. 
189  :  of  Christ,  on  temperance,  iii.  538; 
binding  on  all  men,  539 ;  of  the  Chris¬ 
tian  Sabbath,  what  it  forbids,  ii.  89,  91; 
what  it  requires,  93;  not  fulfilled  by 
outward  acts  alone,  101. 

I^aws,  of  God,  reach  the  heart  and  con¬ 
science,  iii.  488  ;  of  man,  fail  to  restrain 
vice  without  the  Bible,  485 ;  reach 
only  the  overt  action,  486;  cannot  in¬ 
spire  virtuous  principles,  487 ;  their 


704 


INDEX. 


defects  supplied  by  tlic  Bible,  488 : 
have  never  sufficiently  protected  woman, 
490 ;  the  Alien  and  Sedition,  of  our 
country,  350;  the  existing,  on  slavery, 
harsh  and  cruel,  5S1 ;  several,  suggested 
for  its  peaceful  removal,  572,  573. 

Lawful,  proper  application  of  the  term,  ii. 
191. 

Lawgivers  among  the  Greeks,  whence 
their  wisdom,  iii.  148. 

Lawyers,  political  guides  of  the  people,  i. 
349;  have  too  much  power,  350  ;  their 
number  and  training  in  Tennessee,  222; 
Dr.  Lindsley’s  opinion  of,  223 ;  two 
kinds  of,  224. 

Lawyers  and  Parsons,  of  the  ordinary 
stamp,  i.  347 ;  do  not  need  the  stimulus 
of  ardent  spirits,  iii.  527 ;  with  doctors 
and  politicians,  created  by  existing 
evils,  268. 

Lazarus,  the  resurrection  of,  referred  to, 
ii.  669. 

Learned  Men,  their  influence  on  society, 
i.  74;  their  titles  of  nobility  in  Europe, 
425 ;  their  waste  of  ingenuity  on 
groundless  theories,  iii.  151. 

Learned  Ministry,  a  plea  for,  ii.  33;  its 
necessity  shown  from  history,  45-47 ; 
demanded  by  the  heresies  of  the  times, 
78,  79. 

Learning,  usefulness  of  all,  i.  41 ;  benefits 
of,  partially  enjoyed,  71; -influence  of, 
in  Egypt  and  Chaldea,  71  :  effects  of 
the  Reformation  on,  72;  influence  and 
effects  of,  74;  a  heresy  in  regard  to,  80  ; 
prejudices  against,  84;  evidence  of  its 
beneficial  tendency,  139;  demand  for, 
increases  with  the  supply,  135  ;  colonial 
pioneers  in  the  cause  of,  211 ;  evil  effects 
of,  when  restricted  to  a  few,  334;  en¬ 
courages  the  arts  of  peace,  334;  often 
denounced  by  the  rich,  395 ;  lessons 
from  history  on  its  perversion,  334; 
no  bar  to  the  highest  civil  office  in 
New  England,  426;  much  of  every 
kind  needed  in  the  study  of  the  Bible, 
446;  a  little  better  than  none,  519;  not 
inherited,  ii.  70  ;  popular  fallacies  about, 
44;  friendly  to  religion,  47;  of  the 
early  Christian  fathers,  45,  46 ;  no  royal 
road  to,  iii.  115  ;  demanded  in  the  study 
of  the  Scriptures,  206. 

Lectures  of  Dr.  Lindsley,  on  Gre.ek  litera¬ 
ture,  iii.  18,  28,  29;  on  political  science, 
36;  on  the  arts  and  science  of  the  an¬ 
cients,  18-28 ;  in  the  College  of  New 
Jersey,  81;  on  popular  education,  i. 
463. 

Lectures,  Blair’s,  on  Rhetoric  and  Belles- 
Lettres,  quoted,  iii.  97. 

Left-handed  Civility  between  churches 
described,  iii.  454. 

Legal  Equality  of  all  religious  sects,  i. 
322. 

Legislation,  influence  of,  on  the  people,  i. 


292;  excessive  and  vicious,  294;  for 
and  against  education,  effect  of,  646 ; 
its  injurious  influence  in  Tennessee, 
647;  solemn  character  of,  iii.  284;  not 
to  be  intrusted  to  young  men,  285;  its 
cost  to  the  people,  2S9 ;  excessive,  may 
do  much  harm,  354;  its  immense  power 
for  weal  or  woe,  356;  proper  subjects 
for,  357 ;  American,  on  the  African 
race,  very  bad,  578. 

Legislative  Instruction,  the  right  of,  dis¬ 
cussed,  iii.  304. 

Legislators,  their  pay  in  different  States, 
iii.  289;  of  Tennessee,  suggestions  to, 
respecting  a  University,  i.  412. 

Legislature  of  Tennessee,  its  course  to¬ 
wards  schools  and  colleges,  i.  351. 

Legislatures,  character  of  American,  iii. 
287  ;  omnipotence  of,  288  ;  anomaly  in, 
289 ;  State  and  National,  not  antago¬ 
nistic,  308. 

Legitimate  Province  of  the  preacher,  ii.  64. 

Liberal  Education,  its  claims  advocated, 

i.  81,  573;  its  influence  on  all  classes, 
82. 

Liberal  Man,  the  reward  of,  iii.  535 ; 
Scripture  testimony  to,  476. 

Liberal  Sentiments  of  Dr.  Lindsley  as  a 
Presbyterian,  i.  53,  ii.  23,  368,  iii.  315, 
455. 

Liberality,  Christian,  required  of  all  men, 
iii.  481;  never  regretted  in  the  hour  of 
death,  502. 

Liberia,  in  Africa,  the  only  republic  like 
our  own,  iii.  563. 

Liberty,  as  understood  by  the  American 
fathers,  i.  76;  education  the  safeguard 
of,  75;  by  whom  advocated  and  pro¬ 
moted,  143 ;  the  university  the  ally  of, 
450  :  may  be  enjoyed  under  a  monarchy, 
iii.  312  ;  nowhere  possessed  without  the 
Bible,  467 ;  not  enjoyed  by  woman  in 
the  Grecian  and  Roman  republics,  468; 
its  progress  measured  by  the  progress 
of  the  gospel,  469;  ultimate  triumph 
of,  secured  by  religious  knowledge,  666. 

Liberty  of  conscience,  the  largest  allowed 
in  the  Presbyterian  Church,  ii.  360  ; 
invaded  by  the  opposers  of  creeds, 
345  ;  does  not  give  one  sect  preference 
over  another,  iii.  426. 

Liberty  and  Union,  the  sentiment  of,  i, 
357. 

Liberty  or  Death,  why  the  motto  of  the 
American  Revolution,  iii.  247. 

Library,  of  the  Nashville  University,  i. 
268 ;  ministerial  and  congregational, 
how  procured,  ii.  37. 

Libraries,  of  Europe  and  America,  i.  406 ; 
of  Harvard  and  Yale,  417. 

License  System,  its  history  curious  and 
instructive,  iii.  391 ;  taverns  and  gro¬ 
ceries  under,  536. 

Life,  human,  its  brevity  and  importance, 

ii.  159-161;  how  to  make  the  most  of, 


INDEX. 


705 


162;  shortened  by  licentious  indul¬ 
gence,  163 ;  liow  hazarded  and  lost,  181 ; 
should  be  a  constant  preparation  for 
eternity,  186;  often  wasted  in  accumu¬ 
lating  money,  213  ;  a  state  of  discipline 
and  trial,  459;  of  usefulness,  com¬ 
mended  to  young  men,  i.  269. 

Life  and  Death,  the  mysterious  nature  of, 

ii.  672. 

Life-  Work,  its  essential  conditions,  i.  623. 

Light,  of  nature,  an  inadequate  guide,  ii. 
188  ;  of  modern  civilization,  a  barrier 
against  the  return  of  barbarism,  iii. 
237. 

Light  Essays  of  Dr.  Lindsley  for  the  news¬ 
papers,  iii.  602. 

Ligiitfoot,  Dr.  John,  an  Erastian  mem¬ 
ber  of  the  Westminster  Assembly,  iii. 
432. 

Lincoln,  Governor,  of  Massachusetts, 
on  schools,  i.  473. 

Linn/EUS  and  Buffon  referred  to,  ii.  418. 

Lindsley,  Adrian  van  Sinderen,  eldest 
son  of  Dr.  Lindsley,  a  lawyer,  i.  15,  30. 

Lindsley,  Dr.  John  Berrien,  minister 
and  chancellor  of  the  university,  i.  15, 
29. 

Lindsley,  Dr.  Nathaniel  Lawrence, 
professor  and  author,  i.  15,  30. 

Lindsley,  Mrs.  Margaret  Elizabeth, 
wife  of  Dr.  Lindsley,  i.  13 ;  portraiture 
of  her  character,  iii.  64-66. 

Lindsley,  Margaret,  daughter  of  Dr. 
Lindsley,  her  marriage,  i.  15. 

Lindsley,  Eliza  Berrien,  daughter  of 
Dr.  Lindsley,  her  marriage,  i.  15. 

Lindsley,  Philip,  Jr.,  a  child,  his  early 
death,  iii.  62 ;  sketch  of  his  life  and 
character,  63. 

Lindsley,  Philip,  D.  D.,  brief  outline  of 
his  life,  i.  12;  biographical  account  of, 

iii.  9;  birthplace  and  early  studies,  10;  i 
recollections  of  his  mother,  11;  his  first 
teachers,  12  ;  first  attempts  at  teaching, 
13;  letter  to  Rev.  P.  E.  Stevenson,  13; 
classmates,  graduation,  and  tutorship, 
14;  studies  and  attainments,  15;  his 
standing  as  Professor  in  Princeton,  16; 
plea  for  the  theological  seminary,  17; 
lectures  and  works  for  the  press,  18; 
commanding  influence  in  college,  19 ; 
personal  appearance  and  style  of  preach¬ 
ing  at  Princeton,  21 ;  theological  stu¬ 
dies,  i.  12;  Doctorate  of  Divinity  con¬ 
ferred,  13  ;  originality  and  popularity 
as  a  preacher,  iii.  22  ;  great  influence  as 
a  preacher  and  educator,  22 ;  Vice- 
President  and  President  elect  of  Nassau 
Hall,  i.  13,  iii.  23 ;  many  overtures 
from  colleges  declined,  iii.  23  :  visit  to 
Nashville,  and  letters  to  the  Trustees  of 
Cumberland  College,  24;  his  motives 
for  accepting  the  Presidency  of  that 
institution,  25  ;  resignation  at  Prince¬ 
ton,  26;  arrival  and  inauguration  at 

vol.  iii. — 45 


Nashville,  27;  his  manner  of  conferring 
degrees,  27 ;  sketch  of  his  educational 
labours,  i.  12:  member  of  the  Royal 
Society  of  Northern  Antiquaries,  13; 
chief  work  of  his  life  at  Nashville,  15  ; 
his  great  reputation  as  a  teacher,  16  ; 
his  perseverance  at  Nashville,  17;  ap¬ 
pointments  declined  by  him,  18;  first 
baccalaureate,  19 ;  large  plans  for  a 
university,  20-22 ;  his  views  of  Ameri¬ 
can  colleges,  21 ;  his  ardent  zeal  in  the 
cause  of  education,  23  ;  his  unsectarian 
character,  24 ;  noble  vindications  of 
learning,  25-27;  disappointments  and 
trials  in  his  work,  28;  his  confidence 
of  ultimate  success,  29,  30 ;  his  sons, 
practical  instructors,  30 ;  spoken  and 
published  addresses,  31;  contributions 
of  learned  articles  for  the  press,  32 ; 
his  tracts  on  education,  34;  his  asso¬ 
ciates  and  co-labourers  at  Nashville,  34, 
57;  the  master-spirit  of  all  educational 
movements  in  Tennessee,  34;  his  opi¬ 
nions  as  an  educator,  35 ;  his  views  of 
normal  schools  and  the  teaching  office, 
36;  views  of  universal  education,  37; 
views  on  common  schools,  38,  39 ;  his 
views  on  home  education,  40 ;  pleads 
for  the  ancient  classics  as  essential  in 
education,  42 ;  his  opinion  of  peniten¬ 
tiaries,  45 ;  views  on  college  honours 
and  rewards,  46;  views  on  religion  and 
the  study  of  the  Bible  as  a  part  of 
education,  4S-51 ;  liberal  views  of  a 
college  as  Christian  but  not  sectarian, 
51,  52;  opinion  on  denominational 
schools,  52 ;  stamo  of  his  character  as 
a  Presbyterian,  53 ;  results  and  influ¬ 
ences  of  his  life  as  an  educator,  53 ; 
the  number  and  character  of  his  pupils, 
54  ;  his  influence  on  the  city  of  Nash¬ 
ville,  56 ;  influence  throughout  the 
Southwest,  55 ;  worthy  of  a  public 
monument,  60 ;  his  feelings  on  being 
inaugurated,  117  ;  historical  andarchaeo- 
logical  studies,  iii.  27—29 ;  extent  and 
range  of  his  reading,  30-36 ;  opinions 
respecting  various  authors,  31,  32 ;  lec¬ 
tures  on  political  economy  and  govern¬ 
ment,  36  ;  a  careful  student  of  ortho¬ 
graphy,  640  ;  of  political  economy,  648  ; 
his  method  of  preparing  materials  for 
lectures,  545  ;  his  habit  of  writing  for 
the  newspapers,  42,  602;  his  earlier 
and  later  views  on  slavery,  574,  663 ; 
cast  of  his  mind,  36  ;  his  statesmanship, 
37  ;  his  position  as  to  party  politics,  37 ; 
method  of  teaching  in  the  lecture-room, 

37  ;  his  discourse  on  American  Demo¬ 
cracy,  38  :  his  pupils  in  political  science, 

38  ;  his  extemporaneous  discourses,  39  ; 
the  solid  character  of  his  lectures  and 
scholarship,  39;  his  opinions  on  the 
learned  professions,  farmers,  and  me¬ 
chanics,  39 ;  on  collegiate  doctorates, 


706 


INDEX. 


41;  efforts  in  behalf  of  popular  educa¬ 
tion  and  common  schools,  42;  his  pow¬ 
ers  of  wit  and  sarcasm,  43 ;  speeches 
in  the  General  Assembly,  43 ;  outline 
of  his  character  as  a  preacher,  ii.  7 ; 
his  sermons  chiefly  educational,  8 ;  his 
earnestness  and  energy,  9;  preached 
only  when  well  prepared,  10;  his  ap¬ 
pearance  in  the  pulpit,  10 ;  peculiar 
style  of  delivery,  11,  12;  characteristics 
of  his  diction,  12,  13 ;  a  master  of  the. 
art  of  expression,  14;  classic  elegance 
of  all  his  writings,  14 ;  practical  cha¬ 
racter  of  his  preaching,  15;  avoidance 
of  controversial  themes,  10;  his  fare¬ 
well  sermon  at  Princeton,  16;  sermon 
on  the  mysteries  of  God,  described,  18  ; 
symmetry  and  moderation  in  his  preach¬ 
ing,  18;  great  objects  of  his  preaching, 
19  ;  illustration  of  his  wise  counsels,  20, 
21;  his  large  charity,  23;  a  Presbyte¬ 
rian,  but  not  a  bigot,  23,  24,  346;'  his 
sphere  of  labour,  373  ;  his  fearless  de¬ 
nunciations  of  sin  and  vice,  23;  his 
liberal  views  of  church  government,  24; 
his  Plea  for  Princeton  Seminary  de¬ 
scribed,  24-26 ;  his  zeal  for  ministerial 
education,  26,  27  ;  his  project  of  a  theo¬ 
logical  seminary  at  Nashville,  27 ;  why 
he  did  not  preach  frequently,  28 ;  the 
chief  elements  of  his  power,  29;  his  an¬ 
cestry  and  family  connections,  iii.  43 ; 
his  ecclesiastical  jiosition,  44;  his  adhe¬ 
rence  to  Presbyterian  doctrine  and  order, 
45 ;  attendance  on  church  courts,  45,  46  ; 
Moderator"  of  the  General  Assembly  of 
1834,  and  member  of  others,  46 ;  letter 
to  Dr.  Brown  on  this  subject  one  of  his 
last,  47,  49 ;  his  impartiality  and  con¬ 
servatism,  49;  removal  from  Nashville 
and  sundering  of  ties,  49,  50 ;  sum  of 
his  labours  at  Nashville,  51  :  proof  of 
their  success,  52 ;  position  at  New  Al¬ 
bany.  and  influence  as  Professor  there, 
52 ;  inauguration  and  lectures  in  the 
theological  seminary,  53 ;  last  service 
as  President  of  Nashville  University, 
52;  resignation  of  his  office  at  New 
Albany,  53;  testimonial  of  his  col¬ 
league,  Dr.  Stuart,  53;  his  great  con¬ 
versational  powers,  56;  his  stores  of 
learning,  54;  his  catholic  and  genial 
spirit,  55  ;  his  courtesy  and  gentlemanly 
bearing,  59  ;  his  piety  and  spirituality, 
57;  his  domestic  and  social  relations, 
58  ;  home  his  Eden,  59  ;  long-cherished 
filial  affections,  60;  reminiscences  of 
his  mother,  60,  61 ;  family  bereave¬ 
ments,  62 ;  tribute  to  the  memory  of  a 
son,  62,  63;  loss  of  Mrs.  Lindsley,  64; 
touching  portraiture  of  her  character, 
64,  65 ;  letter  to  his  children  in  afflic¬ 
tion,  66 ;  memorials  of  his  religious  ; 
character,  67 ;  last  attendance  on  the 
General  Assembly,  67 ;  last  illness,  and  i 


death,  at  Nashville,  i.  14,  iii.  67;  his 
sublime  and  peaceful  end,  L  61,  62 ; 
tributes  of  respect  at  his  death,  iii.  67 ; 
action  of  the  General  Assembly,  68; 
minute  adopted  by  that  body,  69;  fu¬ 
neral  solemnities,  70;  action  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees  and  alumni  of  the 
university,  71,  72;  tributes  from  the 
press,  and  estimates  of  his  genius,  73- 
75;  testimony  of  Dr.  Van  Rensselaer 
to  his  exalted  piety  and  life  of  useful¬ 
ness,  76;  his  power  as  a  writer  and 
man  of  letters,  74  ;  eminent  ability  and 
success  as  an  educator,  75  ;  other  tri¬ 
butes  and  memorials,  77,  78. 

Lines  quoted  from  Longfellow,  i.  62. 

Lion,  democratic,  Dorr  of  Rhode  Island 
the  gi'eatest,  of  the  day,  iii.  353. 

Liquors ,  intoxicating,  their  former  uni¬ 
versal  use,  iii.  509  ;  unnecessary  as  a 
stimulus,  527  ;  prohibited  by  tempe¬ 
rance  societies,  529 ;  licensed  sale  of, 
391 ;  distilled  and  fermented,  529  ;  dif¬ 
ference  in  their  use,  534;  amount  con¬ 
sumed  by  our  people,  and  pauperism 
caused  by,  i.  182. 

Literature,  influence  of,  i.  344;  American, 
should  be  cultivated,  355;  relations  of 
English  and  American,  355. 

Literature  and  Science,  ameliorating  in¬ 
fluence  of,  i.  84. 

Literary  Men  few  in  our  wealthy  classes, 
i.  394. 

Literary  Society  compared  with  fashion¬ 
able,  i.  432. 

Literary  Taste  among  the  poor,  effects  of, 
i.  84. 

Living  beyond  one’s  income  dangerous  to 
virtue,  i.  291. 

Locality  of  Nashville  described,  i.  57-59, 
379. 

Locke.  Joiix,  illustration  of  his  docility, 
iii.  207 ;  estimate  of  learning  in  his 
dying  hours,  i.  276. 

Logic,  odious  epithets  often  pass  for,  iii. 
124;  false,  employed  by  the  opposers 
of  a  protective  tariff,  3S0  ;  inconsistent, 
on  the  subject  of  slavery,  667. 

L,ollarcls  referred  to,  iii.  430. 

Longevity,  how  promoted,  ii.  169;  of  the 
antediluvians,  favourable  to  the  progress 
of  art  and  science,  iii.  100. 

Long  Constitutions  generally  bad  in  pro¬ 
portion  to  their  length,  iii.  295. 

Long  Life  desirable  and  attainable,  ii. 
180. 

Long  Presidency  of  Dr.  Lindsley  at  Nash¬ 
ville,  iii.  75. 

Longwortii,  Nicholas,  of  Cincinnati, 
referred  to,  iii.  597. 

Looker-on  in  Venice,  iii.  309. 

Lord  Monboddo,  fallacy  of  his  reasoning 
on  man,  iii.  91. 

Lord  Temple,  his  case  illustrates  royal 
interference  in  legislation,  iii.  350. 


INDEX. 


707 


Lord s  of  Creation  cannot  check  female 
liberality,  iii.  471. 

fjord's  Supper,  nature  and  design  of  the 
institution,  ii.  537,-  its  objects,  538; 
emblems  of,  549. 

Lordly  Churchism  described,  ii.  367. 

Loss,  of  confidence  in  our  banks,  to  what 
attributable,  iii.  360  ;  of  money,  in  ardent 
spirits,  524;  of  time,  to  be  well  con¬ 
sidered,  ii.  212;  by  others,  a  cruel  rob-, 
bery  of  our  treasure,  iii.  645. 

Losses,  immense,  under  our  banking  sys¬ 
tem,  iii.  362. 

Lost  Tribes  of  Israel  cannot  be  the  Ame¬ 
rican  Indians,  iii.  163. 

Lot  in  Sodom,  the  character  of,  ii.  470. 

Louisiana,  purchase  of,  by  Mr.  Jefferson, 
iii.  333,  336,  350. 

Louisville  Journal,  commendatory  article 
on  Dr.  Lindsley,  iii.  77. 

Love,  of  country,  American,  described,  i. 
352  ;  of  God,  what  it  implies  and  re¬ 
quires,  ii.  386  ;  of  gold,  an  argument 
against  benevolence,  43 ;  of  the  world, 
the  great  cause  of  unbelief,  489. 

Lower  Orders  of  people,  their  condition  in 
Christendom,  iii.  133. 

Lucian,  his  testimony  as  to  the  fate  of 
Nineveh  and  Babylon,  iii.  107. 

Lucretius  quoted  on  man's  primeval 
savage  state,  iii.  85,  86. 

Luther,  Martin,  his  embittered  contests 
with  Calvin,  iii.  208 ;  quoted,  to  illus¬ 
trate  the  power  of  prejudice,  214;  his 
answer  to  Spalatinus  on  the  Bible,  220 ; 
referred  to,  430  ;  a  model  in  the  pursuit 
of  learning,  ii.  239;  an  example,  like 
Cromwell,  of  decision  of  character,  254; 
his  peculiar  views  on  the  Eucharist, 
317;  on  all  other  points,  Calvinistic, 
348;  charity  of  his  compeers,  369. 

Lutheran  Churches  of  Denmark  and  Ger¬ 
many,  iii.  429. 

Luxuries,  rather  than  necessaries,  to  be 
taxed,  iii.  377. 

Lyell  and  other  geologists  referred  to,  i. 
446. 

Lynch  Law  repudiated  and  condemned,  i. 
510. 

M 

Macicnigiit,  Rev.  Dr.,  his  labours,  ii. 
179;  injured  by  ceasing  from  his  stu¬ 
dies,  179. 

Maclean,  Rev.  Dr.  John,  his  opinion  of 
Dr.  Lindsley,  i.  16. 

Maclure,  William,  anecdote  of,  i.  603. 

Madame  Roland,  her  exclamation  on 
liberty,  iii.  571. 

Madison,  President  James,  opinions  as 
to  the  powers  of  the  Constitution,  iii. 
352 ;  papers  of,  317,  318,  351. 

Magical  Power  of  mere  party  names,  iii.  223. 

Magna  Charta,  American  share  in  its  im¬ 
munities,  iii.  321. 


Maine ,  the  school  system  in  the  State  of, 
i.  502. 

Maitland,  Lord  John,  in  the  Westmin¬ 
ster  Assembly  of  Divines,  iii.  432. 

Majorities,  governing,  may  becomo  dan¬ 
gerous  to  liberty,  iii.  256;  in  what 
sense  they  govern,  303 ;  should  decide 
all  questions  in  Congress,  344,  349. 

Mala  Prohibita  distinguished  from  mala 
in  se,  ii.  321. 

Malays  and  Monguls  probably  descend¬ 
ants  of  Ham,  iii.  186. 

Malthusian  Heresy  disproved  by  the  popu¬ 
lousness  of  China,  iii.  183. 

Mammon,  the  votaries  of,  described,  iii. 
475. 

Mammon-loving  Christians  described,  ii. 
43,  44. 

Man,  a  moral  and  intellectual  being,  i.  83; 
the  creature  of  education,  65 ;  a  reli¬ 
gious  being,  165  ;  in  his  primitive  state, 
civilized  and  educated,  32,  66;  prone 
to  degeneracy,  69;  not-always  disposed 
to  cultivate  his  faculties,  70;  to  what 
extent  the  creature  of  circumstances, 
128 ;  his  first  lesson  to  think  for  him¬ 
self,  200;  not  satisfied  with  earthly 
things,  ii.  1S2;  his  chief  end  as  an  heir 
of  immortality,  196  ;  made  for  religion, 
234 ;  his  character  drawn  in  the  Bible, 
244 ;  his  inability  and  depravity,  389 ; 
his  total  depravity  a  doctrine  of  Scrip¬ 
ture,  473,  498;  apostasy  proved  by  the 
facts  of  history,  503;  unable  to  regene¬ 
rate  himself,  513;  how  endowed  and 
distinguished,  663;  means  and  sources 
of  his  knowledge,  664;  able  to  decide 
on  the  evidences  of  a  divine  revelation, 
665;  allowed  to  judge  of  facts,  665; 
appealed  to  as  a  free  agent  by  his 
Maker,  679  ;  his  helpless  and  perishing 
condition  as  a  sinner,  68,  685  ;  restored 
to  the  image  of  jGod  by  the  gospel,  706  ; 
his  guilt  and  doom  when  a  tempter  of 
the  young,  286 ;  in  what  state  created, 
iii.  98,  113,  151;  civilized  from  the 
beginning,  83,  112,  151;  a  speaking 
animal,  95,  96 ;  has  always  been  a 
civilized  being,  83,  113. 

Man,  according  to  Lord  Monboddo,  allied 
to  the  simian  tribes,  iii.  90 ;  as  God’s 
image,  could  not  have  been  created  in 
a  savage  state,  84,  112 ;  found  in  a  civ¬ 
ilized  state  from  Eden  to  the  dispersion 
at  Babel,  111,  113;  never  a  monkey  or 
a  quadruped,  96 ;  his  occupation  in 
Eden  inconsistent  with  a  savage  state, 
97 ;  in  infancy,  dependent  on  others 
for  education,  82,  114;  accountable  for 
his  religion  only  to  a  heart-searching 
tribunal,  212  :  defined  as  a  tool-making 
animal,  266 ;  his  constant  injustice  to 
woman,  490 ;  his  strength  dependent 
on  association,  512;  character  of  the 
God-fearing,  described,  487. 


708 


INDEX. 


Mankind,  the  original  condition  of,  iii. 
81,  113,  151 ;  mass  of,  governed  by  their 
prejudices,  192,  194. 

Mansfield,  Lord,  referred  to  among  self- 
made  men,  i.  342,  iii.  324;  quoted  on 
popularity,  553. 

Manufacture,  of  cotton,  the  home,  iii.  384; 
of  ardent  spirits,  political  economy  on, 
525  ;  unlawfulness  of,  535,  536  ;  of  wine, 
suggested  for  our  country,  530 ;  of  tes¬ 
timonials  for  genteel  beggars,  610. 

Manufactures,  essential  to  a  country’s 
prosperity,  iii.  380 ;  what  is  essential  to 
make  them  flourish,  383 ;  essential  to 
independent  nationality,  384;  those  of 
the  North  not  oppressive  to  the  South, 
386 ;  greatly  needed  in  the  South,  386 ; 
their  progress  and  extension  Southward, 
387 ;  home,  should  be  protected,  379. 

Manuscript  Volumes  of  Dr.  Lindsley,  some 
burnt,  iii.  9,  28,  29. 

Mariner’s  Compass,  difficulties  in  the  way 
of  its  discovery,  ii.  417;  not  unknown 
to  the  ancients,  iii.  168;  kept  a  secret, 
169. 

Markets  for  home  products  the  great  want 
of  our  country,  iii.  381,  387. 

Marriage,  in  Austria,  allowable  to  those 
only  who  can  read  and  write,  i.  240  ; 
of  Joseph  in  Egypt,  its  policy,  iii.  140; 
among  slaves,  582. 

Martyrdom  not  an  infallible  test  of  truth 
and  sincerity,  ii.  362. 

Martyrs  and  Pioneers  of  truth,  their  sac¬ 
rifices,  i.  284. 

Martyr  Spirit  of  the  Scotch  Presbyterians, 
iii.  408. 

Mass,  of  the  people  in  Europe,  nowhere 
enjoy  the  elective  franchise,  iii.  253;  in 
Continental  Europe,  mostly  educated, 

i.  239;  of  the  American  people,  must 
be  labourers,  iii.  271;  of  mankind,  in 
all  ages  and  countries,  controlled  by 
the  few,  134. 

Massachusetts,  annual  expenditure  for 
liquors  in,  i.  182 ;  feeling  of  her  people 
toward  South  Carolina,  338 ;  eulogium 
on,  as  an  educated  commonwealth,  426; 
her  system  of  public  education,  473; 
her  school  fund,  475;  her  system  im¬ 
possible  for  Tennessee,  644  ;  her  manu¬ 
factures  not  injurious  to  the  South,  iii. 
386. 

Materials,  rich  and  full,  on  the  subject  of 
ancient  learning,  iii.  150  ;  for  banking, 
gold  and  silver  the  only  legitimate,  549. 

Materialism,  if  true,  no  disproof  of  the 
soul’s  immortality,  ii.  696  ;  the  doctrine 
of,  contrary  to  reason  and  Scripture, 
697. 

Matters  of  Fact  distinguished  from  Scrip¬ 
ture  mysteries,  ii.  643. 

Maxims,  materials  for  reflection,  article  on, 
iii.  553  ;  among  temperance  physicians, 
519 ;  of  wisdom  for  the  young,  i.  272. 


Mayflower  referred  to,  iii.  439. 

Means  of  grace,  their  use  necessary  to 
salvation,  ii.  526. 

Measures,  of  public  interest,  when  con¬ 
stitutional,  iii.  335;  of  the  North,  at 
first  originated  in  the  South,  570. 

Mechanics,  may  claim  an  illustrious  origin, 
iii.  266 ;  the  earliest  occupation  in 
Eden,  265. 

’Mechanical  Arts  essential  to  social  exist¬ 
ence,  iii.  266. 

Mechanics  and  Farmers,  influence  of,  on 
society,  i.  348;  true  policy  for  their 
sons,  348;  need  education  for  them¬ 
selves  and  their  children,  iii.  270. 

Mechanics,  Farmers,  and  Schoolmasters, 
the  three  most  ancient  and  useful  classes, 
iii.  265,  266;  thrown  into  the  back¬ 
ground  by  an  upstart  nobility,  267  ; 
-their  common  interests,  270. 

Medical  Profession,  noble  efforts  of,  in 
favour  of  the  temperance  cause,  iii.  517. 

Medical  Reforms  of  a  Paracelsus,  i.  599. 

Medical  Schools  can  succeed  only  in  cities, 

i.  219;  the  students  of,  in  France  and 
Germany,  421,  422;  thoroughness  of 
their  education,  222,  422. 

Meeting-Houses,  wh}r  so  called,  iii.  424. 

Men,  the  first  of  our  race,  their  condition 
according  to  the  Greek  and  Latin  poets, 
iii.  93;  agreement  of,  as  to  ends,  while 
differing  about  ways  and  means,  556; 
cannot  set  aside  the  claims  of  God’s 
law,  ii.  190;  of  genius,  examples  of,  i. 
617;  obligation  of  the  world  to,  ii.  419. 

Men,  of  learning,  in  the  dark  ages,  i.  73  ; 
not  always  the  friends  of  liberty,  143; 
in  office,  should  not  be  partisans,  iii. 
303 ;  of  science  and  literature,  their 
character,  i.  456  ;  of  Seventy-Six,  their 
intellectual  and  moral  character,  209; 
their  mistakes  about  personal  religion, 

ii.  399,400  ;  who  boast  of  conscientious 
scruples,  to  be  suspected,  iii.  314;  who 
strain  at  gnats  and  swallow  camels, 
342. 

Men-Pleasers  cannot  be  the  servants  of 
God,  ii.  251. 

Mercury  fourteen  and  eighteen  degrees 
below  zero  at  Nashville  in  1831  and 
1 832,  iii.  614,  627. 

Messengers  to  be  believed  oil  testimony, 
though  from  the  moon,  ii.  677. 

Jkcssiah,  results  of  his  first  advent,  iii.  460. 

Methodism,  American,  lordly  power  of  its 
bishops,  iii.  429. 

Metropolitans,  popish  and  patriarchal, 
origin  of,  iii.  418. 

Mexicans  and  Peruvians,  their  colossal 
works  and  state  of  civilization,  iii.  117, 
166. 

Michaelis  andEiciiHORN,  biblical  critics, 

iii.  180. 

Microscope  and  Telescope,  revelations  of, 

i.  631. 


INDEX, 


709 


Middling  Classes,  their  interests  in  educa¬ 
tion,  i.  146. 

Military  Companies,  cost  to  the  labouring 
classes,  iii.  598. 

Militia  System,  expensive  and  useless,  i. 
293,  477,  iii-  357  ;  taxes  of,  i.  476. 

Millennium,  small  prospect  of  its  near 
approach,  ii.  80. 

Miller,  Dr.  Samuel,  his  opinion  on  the 
ordination  of  ruling  elders,  iii.  445. 

Millions,  of  men  slaughtered  in  the  wars 
of  the  last  century,  iii.  238 ;  of  money, 
consumed  in  strong  drink,  523;  a  dead 
loss  to  the  community,  524. 

Miltiades  and  other  sufferers  at  the 
hands  of  their  country,  i.  282. 

Milton,  John,  quoted  on  liberal  educa¬ 
tion,  i.  106;  effect  of  his  writings,  285; 
a  good  schoolmaster,  562. 

Mind,  proper  condition  of,  for  acquiring 
truth,  iii.  195. 

Ministers  of  Christ,  ineligible  to  civil  office 
in  some  States,  i.  487 ;  hundreds  needed, 
ii.  68;  preaching  of,  popular,  326; 
proofs  of  faithfulness  in,  655  ;  a  public 
education  needed  by,  48,  49;  their 
rights  as  citizens,  61;  their  usefulness 
as  a  profession,  62,  63;  their  great 
work,  64;  their  twofold  character  and 
relation,  333;  fidelity  demanded  in, 
631 ;  what  is  implied  in  being  faithful, 
613;  must  preach  the  mysteries  of 
Christ,  647. 

Mi  nisters,  why  faithful  as  God’s  stewards, 
648;  nature  of  their  obligations,  651; 
should  agree  to  differ,  iii.  207 ;  all  faith¬ 
ful,  successors  of  the  apostles,  409 ; 
none  able  to  trace  the  pedigrees  far 
back,  410;  sustain  a  twofold  character, 
418  ;  their  example  as  to  temperance, 
533 ;  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  must 
adopt  its  standards,  444;  ought  to  in¬ 
struct  their  people  on  church  govern¬ 
ment,  449. 

Mi  nistry  of  the  gospel,  a  learned,  needful, 

ii.  33  ;  must  be  supported  more  liberally, 
36,  37  ;  what  is  expected  of,  33  ;  can  be 
qualified  only  by  study,  41,  42 ;  an 
appeal  to,  76. 

Mirabeau  quoted,  iii.  299. 

Miracles,  of  the  Bible,  addressed  to  the 
senses,  ii.  667;  all  matters  of  fact,  668; 
differ  from  all  spurious  miracles,  668  ; 
of  philanthropy  and  mercy,  wrought  by 
Christianity,  ii.  236. 

Miraculous  Facts  of  the  Bible  founded  on 
evidence,  ii.  668. 

Mi  raculous  Preservation  seen  in  the  de¬ 
scendants  of  Israel,  iii.  164. 

Misery,  all  in  the  world  due  to  sin,  ii.  511; 
of  lost  sinners,  must  be  endless,  494. 

Mis  government  exhibited  in  our  country, 

iii.  356. 

M  ssi.on  of  Christ  to  this  world,  ii. 
593. 


Missionary  Aspect  presented  by  our  own 
country,  ii.  67,  68. 

Missions  to  the  heathen  the  characteristic 
of  our  age,  ii.  432. 

Mississippi,  education  in  the  valley  of  the, 
i.  213. 

Mobocracy,  the  prevalence  of,  in  our 
country,  i.  469. 

Mode ,  of  the  Divine  existence,  inscrutable 
to  man,  ii.  640  ;  of  miracles  and  mys¬ 
teries,  not  revealed  to  us,  670,  671. 

Moderate  Use  of  ardent  spirits  fraught 
with  evil,  iii.  510,  520. 

Moderatism  in  the  Church  of  Scotland,  its 
despotism,  iii.  441. 

Modern  Persecutor  in  a  Christian  garb 
described,  ii.  270. 

Modem  Pharisaism  condemned,  i.  323. 

Modern  Puseyism,  the  spirit  of,  iii.  410. 

Modern  Unitarianism  more  dangerous 
than  avowed  infidelity,  ii.  77. 

Modern  Slavery  the  sin  of  Christendom, 
iii.  669. 

Moderns  slow  to  do  justice  to  ancient  art 
and  science,  iii.  169. 

Modesty  the  crowning  glory  of  a  liberal 
education,  i.  573. 

Moloch,  sacrifices  to,  in  ancient  times,  ii. 
680  ;  of  modern  intemperance,  iii.  582. 

Monboddo,  Lord,  his  theory  of  man’s 
primeval  state,  iii.  89 ;  fallacy  of  his 
reasoning,  91. 

Money,  the  making  of,  not  condemned  by 
the  gospel,  ii.  34;  how  employed  for 
good,  36,  81;  people  who  make,  the 
best  members  of  society,  i.  229  ;  parents 
allow  sons  too  much,  390  ;  aristocracy 
of,  described,  395 ;  the  best  kind  of 
paper,  iii.  372 ;  how  created  out  of  a 
national  debt,  373 :  paper,  safer  and 
more  convenient  than  specie,  487 ;  no 
compensation  for  loss  of  time,  ii.  213. 

Mongrel  Gospels  numbered  by  schools  of 
philosophy,  iii.  201. 

Monopoly,  need  not  exist  under  a  pro¬ 
tective  tariff,  iii.  379 ;  of  government 
banks,  always  oppressive,  353  ;  of  elect¬ 
ive  franchises  in  the  hands  of  the 
President,  325,  326;  none  for  different 
sections,  386. 

Monster  Heresy  of  persecution  still  alive 
in  the  church,  ii.  370. 

Montaigne  and  a  host  of  writers  on  edu¬ 
cation  referred  to,  i.  52. 

Monuments ,  of  human  art,  where  found,  i. 
67  ;  of  Egypt,  their  testimony  on  an¬ 
cient  civilization,  iii.  145. 

Moral  Character  of  man  must  be  radically 
changed,  iii.  488. 

Moral  Code  of  the  Bible,  no  enemy  to 
human  enjoyment,  ii.  Ill,  112;  its  ex¬ 
cellence  conceded  by  infidels,  iii.  472 ; 
its  effects,  ii.  683  ;  its  influence  essential 
to  the  peace  of  society,  iii.  485. 

Moral  Courage,  the  power  of,  i.  169,  170 ; 


710 


INDEX. 


greatly  needed  in  our  statesmen,  iii. 
313. 

Moral  Faculties,  importance  of  cultivating, 
in  the  young,  i.  93. 

Moral  Instruction,  a  deficiency  in,  i.  507. 

Moral  Law  of  God,  its  nature  and  extent, 

ii.  87. 

Moral  Truth,  its  progress  slow  hut  sure,  i. 
284,  285. 

Morality  of  college  life,  how  regulated,  i. 
567. 

Morals  of  the  people  greatly  influenced 
by  legislation,  iii.  354. 

Moravian  Brethren,  their  first  missions  to 
the  heathen,  ii.  431,  433 ;  their  zealous 
and  successful  labours,  434. 

More,  Sir  Thomas,  sentenced  to  be  hanged, 
but  beheaded,  iii.  416. 

Morrison,  Dr.,  referred  to,  iii.  396. 

Morton,  the  Regent,  his  remark  at  the 
grave  of  Knox,  iii.  555. 

Moses,  facts  recorded  by,  i.  66 ;  his  ac¬ 
count  of  man’s  creation  appealed  to  for 
man’s  primeval  civilization,  iii.  97;  our 
only  authority  on  the  problems  of  the 
world’s  origin,  102  :  his  history  contains 
no  trace  of  barbarism  or  savage  life, 
136;  his  account  of  the  Deluge  confirmed 
by  science,  155;  supposed  to  mention 
the  peopling  of  America,  160  ;  his  cha¬ 
racter  as  a  legislator,  285 ;  his  agree¬ 
ment  with  Herodotus  on  the  cities  of 
ancient  Egypt,  179. 

Moses  and  Plato  graduates  of  the  uni¬ 
versities  of  Egypt,  iii.  150. 

Moses  and  the  Prophets  credible  as  histo¬ 
rians,  iii.  127. 

Mosheim,  the  church  historian,  quoted, 

iii.  412. 

Moslems,  wars  of  extermination  against, 

ii.  312. 

Mothers,  the  best  teachers  for  young  chil¬ 
dren,  i.  416;  the  first  teachers,  517. 

Motives,  for  education,  should  be  held  out 
in  public-school  systems,  i.  480  ;  for  ob¬ 
serving  the  Sabbath  urged,  ii.  103. 

Motto  of  Americans  should  be  Union,  i. 
354. 

Multiplication  of  Western  colleges  an 
evil,  i.  254. 

Murder,  scriptural  definition  of,  iii.  563. 

Murderous  Usages  of  Christian  society, 

iii.  537. 

Murray,  Dr.  Alexander,  his  History 
of  European  Languages,  iii.  88. 

Mute  Savages,  some,  found  who  could  not 
be  taught  to  speak,  iii.  94. 

Mysteries,  in  the  providence  of  God,  ii. 
425;  throughout  the  universe,  641; 
many  unsolved,  connected  with  revela¬ 
tion,  i.  424;  all  revealed  as  soon  as 
made  known,  ii.  670  ;  some  still  unre¬ 
vealed,  673;  of  the  Bible,  their  charac¬ 
ter,  iii.  205;  of  the  gospel,  committed 
to  God’s  ministers,  ii.  631 ;  what  is 


understood  by,  633 ;  used  in  various 
senses,  634,  637 ;  known  to  us  only  as 
facts,  639 ;  the  facts  intelligible,  but 
not  their  nature,  639;  this  distinction 
illustrated,  640;  ministers  must  have  a 
knowledge  of,  644;  the  instruments  of 
salvation,  648;  their  influence  on  the 
ancient  pagan  world,  650  ;  their  efficacy 
in  all  ages  and  lands,  650  ;  must  be 
prominently  held  forth  in  all  evangeli¬ 
cal  preaching,  655. 

Mysterious  Doctrines  not  found  in  the 
Bible,  ii.  669. 

Mysterious  Facts  found  alike  in  nature 
and  the  Bible,  ii.  669,  676. 

Mysterious  Revelation  a  contradiction  in 
terms,  ii.  669. 

Mystery,  definition  of  the  word,  ii.  633  ; 
its  different  applications  in  Scripture, 
636,  637 ;  its  real  import  in  Scripture, 
669,  671;  of  the  Trinity,  674;  of  god¬ 
liness,  what  is  implied  in,  636. 

Mythology  of  Greece,  by  whom  originated, 
iii.  122. 

X 

Name  of  our  republic,  i.  577. 

Napoleon  Bonaparte,  referred  to,  ii. 
224,  677;  results  of  his  occupation  of 
Egypt,  iii.  147. 

Nashville,  the  city  of,  indebted  to  Dr. 
Lindsley  for  its  growth,  i.  56  ;  descrip¬ 
tion  of,  in  1830  and  1S59,  57,  58;  great 
improvements  in,  59;  enviable  site  for 
a  great  university,  154,  258;  salubrity 
of  its  climate,  263;  its  advantages, 
379-381;  moral  and  religious  aspects 
of,  382-385  ;  graduates  of  its  university, 
569;  obligations  of  the  Christians  in, 
iii.  502  ;  their  duties  in  the  temperance 
cause,  602,  603  ;  article  on,  631. 

Nissan  Hall,  i.  87. 

National  Bank,  not  an  open  question,  iii. 
337 ;  the  best  form  of,  368  ;  two  bills 
for,  vetoed  by  Tyler,  369, 

National  Churches,  established,  anticliris- 
tian,  ii.  318  ;  Protestant,  their  condition 
after  the  Reformation,  iii.  423. 

National  Currency,  indispensable  elements 
of  a  sound,  iii.  374,  375. 

National  Debt,  how  converted  into  a  sound 
paper  currency,  iii.  373. 

National  Independence,  American,  secured 
by  the  services  of  Washington,  iii.  252 ; 
distinguished  from  liberty,  311. 

National  Roads  made  by  the  government, 
iii.  339. 

National  Union,  American,  our  obliga¬ 
tions  to,  i.  288 ;  its  priceless  value, 
332 ;  threatened  dissolution  of,  332. 

National  University,  ought  to  be  founded 
by  the  general  government,  i.  407; 
ought  to  teach  every  thing  which  can 
be  learned  anywhere,  408. 

Nations,  all  pagan  and  Mohammedan, 


INDEX. 


711 


have  lioly  days,  ii.  Ill  ;  the  most  an¬ 
cient,  all  civilized,  iii.  124,  126 ;  inhe¬ 
rent  rights  of  sovereignty  of,  336. 

Natural  Science,  prejudice  against,  i.  603. 

Nature ,  often  an  uncertain  guide,  iii.  82  ; 
has  formed  no  new  varieties  of  our  race, 
174;  harmony  of,  with  revelation,  i. 
446. 

Nature  of  evangelical  repentance,  a  ser¬ 
mon,  ii.  593. 

Necessaries  of  life  taxed  in  Tennessee  for 
luxuries,  iii.  390. 

Necessity,  of  regeneration,  a  sermon,  ii. 
381 ;  how  evinced,  512  ;  of  divine  agency 
for  man’s  salvation,  393;  of  revelation, 
415;  of  creeds  and  confessions  of  faith, 
iii.  220  ;  of  circulating  the  Bible,  459. 

Neglect  of  obvious  duties  chargeable  on 
all,  iii.  210,  211. 

Negro,  the  race  of  the,  not  settled  in 
Northern  Africa,  iii.  164;  unchangeable 
physical  characteristics  of,  175;  adapted 
to  the  factory  as  an  operative,  388; 
mania  concerning,  at  the  North  and 
South,  435 ;  in  America,  must  hold  one 
of  three  conditions,  563 ;  slavery  of,  in 
our  country,  574;  relation  to  the  supe¬ 
rior  race,  583 ;  relative  condition  in 
Africa  and  America,  577-581;  present 
and  ultimate  condition  of,  663-672. 

Netherlands,  universities  of,  i.  242. 

New  Birth  essential  to  salvation,  ii.  381. 

New  England,  systems  of  education  in,  i. 
508 ;  virtues  and  defects  of  its  schools, 
511;  Quixotic  people  in,  509;  condition 
of  its  churches,  ii.  713  ;  dislike  of,  to 
the  Embargo  Act,  iii.  319;  ablest  di¬ 
vines  of,  favoured  Presbyterianism, 
437,  438  ;  first  school  system,  how  esta¬ 
blished,  i.  u45. 

New  Haven,  revenue  of,  i.  88. 

New  Heart ,  in  man,  whence  derived,  ii. 
514;  indispensable  to  a  Christian  life, 
385,  705,  720. 

New  Jersey,  excellence  of  the  Constitution 
of,  iii.  294;  broad  seal  of,  310. 

New  Name  of  our  republic,  i.  577. 

New  School  Presbyterians,  their  experi¬ 
ments  in  church  polity,  iii.  437. 

New  Testament,  moral  code  of,  not  ob¬ 
jected  to  as  too  low,  ii.  683;  its  testi¬ 
mony  as  to  church  government,  iii.  403, 

,  404;  first  grand  charter  of  human 
rights,  489. 

Newton,  Sir  Isaac,  a  model  for  young 
men,  ii.  171;  his  relation  to  universal 
science,  416  ;  his  defence  of  Christianity 
to  Dr.  Halley,  471,  472. 

Newton,  Bishop,  quoted  on  the  peopling 
of  Africa,  iii.  163. 

Newspapers,  political  and  religious,  their 
partisan  character,  iii.  571,  572. 

New  World,  how  first  peopled,  iii.  154; 
not  of  more  recent  origin  than  the  Old,  ; 
155 ;  not  unknown  to  Plato  and  the  | 


priests  of  Egypt,  156-158;  by  whom 
and  why  colonized,  232. 

New  York,  colleges  of,  i.  216 ;  public- 
school  system  of,  477;  its  peculiar  fea¬ 
tures,  478;  the  best  system,  645. 

Nimrod  leader  of  the  attempt  to  build 
Babel,  iii.  107,  129. 

Nineteenth  Century,  its  grand  discovery  of 
circulating  the  Bible,  iii.  462. 

Nineveh,  the  ancient  city  of,  its  origin  and 
history,  iii.  129. 

No  Banks  better  than  our  present  banking- 
system,  iii.  364. 

No  Bishop,  No  King,  maxim  of  the  British 
Solomon,  iii.  407. 

No-Creed  Churches,  their  inconsistency,  ii. 
341-343 ;  require  a  test  of  membership 
as  much  as  others,  iii.  451,  452. 

No-Creed  Man  apt  to  be  a  pope  in  dis¬ 
guise,  ii.  345. 

No  Danger  in  Christianity  except  from  its 
abuse,  iii.  495. 

No  Escape  for  the  rejecters  of  the  great 
salvation,  ii.  707-709. 

No  Hope  for  the  finally  Impenitent,  ii. 
628. 

No  Nation  before  the  United  States  with¬ 
out  an  established  religion,  iii.  422. 

No  Neutrality  on  the  temperance  question, 
iii.  533. 

No  Peace  to  the  wicked  who  despise  the 
gospel,  ii.  409. 

No  Price  too  great  to  pay  for  education, 
i.  132. 

No  Salvation  without  a  knowledge  of  gos¬ 
pel  truth,  ii.  648. 

No  Plea  from  Scripture  to  justify  strong- 
drink,  iii.  531. 

No  Veteran  in  crime  reformed  by  prison- 
discipline,  iii.  398. 

Noah,  the  ark  of,  disproves  a  savage  state 
at  the  flood,  iii.  104;  a  husbandman 
and  not  a  savage,  106;  divided  the 
earth  by  divine  command,  128. 

Nobility,  titles  of,  contrary  to  the  Ameri¬ 
can  Constitution,  iii.  340. 

Noble  Enterprises,  by  some  always  cried 
down,  iii.  475;  of  genius  and  wisdom 
in  the  temperance  cause,  506. 

Nomina  Clara  of  philosophy  not  nume¬ 
rous,  iii.  216. 

Nominal  Christians,  still  numerous  in  the 
church,  ii.  398;  strangers  to  the  influ¬ 
ence  of  the  Bible,  iii.  481 ;  their  cha¬ 
racter  portrayed,  482. 

Nomination  of  federal  officers,  to  whom 
belonging,  iii.  321,  322. 

Non-Episcopal  Churches,  principles  held 
in  common  by,  iii.  403,  404. 

Non-Professors  still  bound  by  the  claims 
of  the  gospel,  ii.  191. 

Normal  Schools  early  advocated  by  Dr. 
Lindsley,  i.  36. 

North  and  South,  misunderstanding  be¬ 
tween,  i.  338,  339. 


712 


INDEX. 


Northern  Colleges ,  causes  of  their  success, 

i.  424. 

Notes,  bank,  how  made  as  good  as  gold, 
iii.  365,  370  :  treasury  and  government, 
as  a  circulating  medium,  368,  373. 
Nothing  Unconstitutional  when  for  the 
public  good,  iii.  385. 

Nullification,  consequences  of  the  doc- ' 
trine  of,  i.  339 ;  scheme  of  political 
chieftains,  340  ;  dangerous  and  delusive, 
333. 

Number  of  persons  unable  to  read  in 
several  States,  iii.  271. 

0 

Obedience  to  the  Divine  will,  constitutes 
happiness,  ii,  129  ;  the  paramount  duty 
of,  251 ;  mark  of  spiritual-mindedness, 
575;  the  only  sufficient  evidence  of 
true  faith,  681. 

Objections,  to  Nashville  University  an¬ 
swered,  i.  375  ;  against  the  moral  code 
of  the  Old  Testament  raised  by  some, 

ii.  683;  to  eternal  future  punishment, 
fallacy  of,  6S9  ;  to  arguments  on  church 
government,  iii.  404,  405 ;  alleged, 
against  temperance  societies,  511. 

Objects  worthy  of  man’s  nature  presented, 

ii.  227. 

Odium  Theologicum  of  the  Protestant 
clergy,  iii.  207. 

Offers  of  salvation  through  the  blood  of 
Christ,  ii.  716. 

Office,  qualifications  for,  iii.  277 ;  never 
sought  by  the  author,  iii.  315. 
Office-Seekers,  description  of,  iii.  277. 
Office-Holders  should  be  qualified,  i.  441. 
Officers,  federal,  should  not  all  be  ap¬ 
pointed  by  the  President,  iii.  325  ;  bank, 
how  controlled,  36-6 ;  their  number  and 
expense,  374;  primitive  church,  how 
designated,  409,  446:  three  orders  of, 
admitted,  438. 

Offices  often  filled  by  incompetent  men.,  i. 

*  438. 

Official  Acts  of  churches,  recognition  of, 

iii.  454. 

Official  Aristocracy  described,  iii.  280. 
Officious  Economists,  their  opposition  to 
Bible  Societies,  iii.  491. 

Old  Age ,  irreligious,  a  sad  picture,  ii.  220  ; 
of  indolence  not  to  be  desired,  180; 
premature,  from  ardent  spirits,  iii.  517. 
Old  and  Neio  Schools,  Presbyterian,  Dr. 

Lindsley’s  position,  iii.  46. 

Old  Federalism,  whence  its  name  and 
origin,  iii.  353. 

Old  Field  Pedagogue,  a  description  of 
Tennessee,  iii.  630. 

Old  Testament  Patriarchs,  how  vindicated, 

ii.  686. 

Omnipotence  of  public  opinion,  iii.  529. 

One  Class  a  Day,  societies  on  this  motto,  i 

iii.  533.  i 


One- ^fan  Power  under  the  Federal  Con¬ 
stitution,  iiL  325,  326. 

One  System  of  doctrine  revealed  in  the 
Bible,  iii.  198. 

One  Term  Only  should  be  the  law  of  the 
Presidency,  iii.  344,  345. 

One  Thing  Needful  urged  on  all  men,  ii. 
404. 

Ophir  of  Solomon  may  be  the  American 
Peru,  iii.  170. 

Opinions,  conflicting,  as  to  Scripture  doc¬ 
trines,  the  origin,  iii.  198;  narrow  and 
illiberal,  how  formed,  218. 

Opposition,  of  Christians,  to  circulating 
the  Bible,  i.  308 ;  to  the  first  Bible  So¬ 
ciety,  violent,  iii.  523 ;  various  motives 
of,  among  bad  men,  464. 

Oppression,  cruel,  exhibited  in  all  classic 
history,  iii.  489. 

Oppugners  of  religious  prejudices  should 
be  cautious,  iii.  194. 

Opulence  often  becomes  a  curse,  i.  625. 

Oracles  of  God,  their  composition  ami 
safe  keeping,  iii.  459. 

Orang  Outangs  held  by  Monboddo  to  be 
of  the  human  family,  iii.  91. 

Ordination,  Episcopal,  identical  with 
Presbyterian,  iii.  444;  of  elders  and 
deacons,  445. 

Oriental  Countries  not  so  unchangeable 
as  many  allege,  iii.  146. 

Oriental  Philosophy,  its  effect  on  the  gos¬ 
pel,  iii.  200. 

Orientals,  the  ancient,  compared  with 
modern  nations,  iii.  133. 

Origin,  of  evil,  a  difficult  problem,  ii.  530  ; 
of  the  temperance  reform,  iii.  533. 

Original  Corruption  of  man's  nature, 
cause  of,  ii.  687. 

Original  Genius,  how  elicited  among  the 
Greeks  and  fiomans,  i.  90. 

Original  Minds,  their  points  of  resem¬ 
blance,  ii.  9. 

Original  Settlers  of  our  country,  their 
principles  and  aims,  iii.  232. 

Orphans  of  drunkards,  their  fate,  iii.  520. 

Orthodoxy,  often  a  cover  for  practical 
heresies,  ii.  326;  insufficient  without 
practical  piety,  544;  sometimes  found 
in  the  worst  men,  682 ;  the  advocate  of, 
how  formed,  iii.  219. 

Orthography  a  special  study  of  Dr.  Linds- 
ley,  iii.  640. 

Our  Country  greatly  needing  a  gospel 
ministry,  ii.  67,  68. 

Ovid,  the  Latin  poet,  indebted  to  tradi¬ 
tions  of  Mosaic  history,  iii.  93. 

Owen,  Dr.  John,  quoted,  ii.  541. 

Ownership  of  land,  its  importance  to  so¬ 
ciety,  i.  490. 

P 

Pagan  Nations  had  a  substitute  for  the 
Sabbath,  ii.  111. 


INDEX.  713 


Pagan  Nobleman  willing  to  be  a  Christian 
bishop,  ii.  267. 

Paley,  Dr.  William,  quoted  on  the  law 
of  honour,  i.  189;  his  Evidences  quoted, 
iii.  540  ;  quotation  from,  358. 

Paper  Constitutions  no  safeguard  against 
infuriated  majorities,  iii.  256. 

Paper  Currency,  of  some  sort,  indispensa¬ 
ble,  iii.  338,  367  ;  may  be  more  valuable 
than  specie,  370,  371;  advantages  over 
gold  and  silver,  372  ;  its  loss  not  the 
annihilation  of  value,  372;  a  substitute 
for  gold  and  silver,  549,  551. 

Paracelsus,  medical  reforms  of,  i.  599. 

Paradise,  the  primitive,  the  fountain  of 
all  civilization,  iii.  84. 

Parental  Authority,  too  much  neglect  of, 

ii.  144. 

Parental  Disappointment,  a  source  of,  i. 
389. 

Parents,  duties  and  responsibilities  of,  i. 
382 ;  their  wrong  interference  with 
teachers,  389  ;  should  be  compelled  to 
educate  their  children,  500  ;  mistaken 
notions  of,  563;  how  they  should  train 
their  children,  iii.  484;  responsible  for 
drunken  son,  522  ;  could  easily  educate 
their  children,  560. 

Paris,  Governor,  of  Maine,  on  public 
schools,  i.  474. 

Paris,  the  city  of,  its  institutions  and 
works  of  art,  i.  409;  its  public  libraries, 
410 ;  the  medical  schools  of,  422. 

Parker,  Archbishop,  a  fierce  persecutor, 

iii.  415. 

Parliament,  the  British,  how  composed, 
iii.  2S5. 

Parochial  Schools  not  practicable  in  Ten¬ 
nessee,  i.  644. 

Parsimony  in  education,  bad  policy  of,  i. 
132. 

Parsons,  how  treated  by  State  Constitu¬ 
tions,  iii.  297. 

Parting  among  friends,  its  lessons,  ii.  295. 

Party,  definition  of,  iii.  571. 

Party  Factions,  their  danger  in  a  republic, 
iii.  257. 

Party  Feelings  discouraged,  i.  377. 

Party  Names,  no  qualification  for  civil 
office,  iii.  283  ;  in  ecclesiastical  affairs, 
contrary  to  the  gospel,  223. 

Party  Politics,  young  men  warned  against, 

i.  289;  should  be  kept  out  of  colleges, 
i.  377. 

Party  Prejudices,  dangerous  influence  of, 
on  youth,  iii.  222. 

Party  Spirit,  condemnation  of,  iii.  315. 

Passage  of  men  and  animals  to  America, 
ho  v  effe  -  A  1,  iii.  L 7 1 . 

Pastoral  O'jice,  a  sermon  on,  ii.  303;  na¬ 
ture  and  importance  of,  304-30S. 

Pastors,  of  the  church,  how  supplied,  ii. 
66  :  great  need  of,  in  our  country,  67,  68. 

Paternal  Counsels  to  young  men  on  leav¬ 
ing  college,  i.  371. 


Path  of  glory  open  to  all  virtuous  youth, 

i.  303. 

Pathology  of  drunkenness,  iii.  518. 

Patriarchs,  Old  Testament,  their  imper¬ 
fections  explained,  ii.  686. 

Patrician  Order  never  inti’oduced  among 
the  American  Colonies,  iii.  252. 

Patriotism,  distinguished  from  party  zeal, 

ii.  281;  impossible  without  religion,  i. 
550;  not  a  thing  for  empty  boasting, 
291. 

Patriots  appealed  to  in  behalf  of  the  Bible 
Society,  iii.  467. 

Paul,  the  Apostle,  remarkable  for  deci¬ 
sion  of  character,  ii.  254,  257 ;  his  life 
a  comment  on  Christian  charity,  266; 
his  precepts  illustrated  by  example,  276; 
a  model  for  Christian  ministers,  305, 
645;  teaching  and  practice,  306;  cha¬ 
racter  of  his  preaching,  647  ;  not  igno¬ 
rant  of  infidel  objections  and  theories, 
671;  what  he  was  before  and  after  his 
conversion,  681 ;  his  Epistle  to  the  Ro¬ 
mans  on  justification  by  faith,  686,  687 ; 
quoted  on  temperance,  iii.  532;  grandeur 
of  his  character,  250. 

Paulding,  IIon.  James  K.,  letter  of,  iii. 
77. 

Pauperism  caused  by  intoxicating  liquors, 

i.  182. 

Paupers,  need  not  be  found  in  our  coun¬ 
try,  iii.  596;  for  the  most  part  foreign¬ 
ers  and  Romanists,  596. 

Pay  of  our  legislators,  iii.  289. 

Pedants  and  Pedagogues,  description  of, 

iii.  272. 

Penitence,  genuine  Christian,  described, 

ii.  611. 

Penitentiaries,  in  some  points  models  for 
schools  and  colleges,  i.  252 ;  Eastern, 
confirm  Bible  principles,  iii.  484. 

Penitentiary  of  Tennessee,  a  sort  of  favour¬ 
ite  State  university,  i.  381;  a  model 
manual  labour  establishment,  442. 

Penitentiary  System,  views  on,  i.  151; 
might  be  superseded,  152;  expensive 
and  defective,  245,  246;  compared  with 
our  college  system,  247;  of  New  York 
and  Connecticut,  252. 

People,  must  have  knowledge  to  have 
power,  i.  75;  improvements  of  every 
kind  commence  with,  300. 

People ,  competent  to  decide  on  church 
affairs  from  the  Bible,  iii.  433 ;  how 
cheated  by  popular  demagogues,  495; 
may  be  intelligent  and  virtuous  under 
absolute  monarchs,  210  ;  of  Europe,  lack 
political  training  to  fit  them  for  free 
government,  241,  242  ;  of  London  and 
Paris,  compared  with  Athens  and  Rome, 
i.  72 ;  American,  their  sovereignty,  i. 
300  ;  how  imposed  on,  337  ;  their  rela¬ 
tion  to  government,  iii.  274;  expect  too 
much  of  government,  275;  elect  few 
federal  officers  directly,  326 ;  have  no 


714 


INDEX. 


control  over  the  President,  348 ;  how 
humbugged,  342,  358,  359 ;  warned, 
329 ;  deceived  and  swindled  by  banks, 
362,  367 ;  slow  to  believe  in  the  bless¬ 
ings  of  taxation,  377 ;  prejudiced  against 
a  tariff',  378  ;  what  they  ought  to  do  for 
themselves,  394;  the  mass  of,  enjoy 
liberty  in  all  countries  in  proportion  as 
they  know  the  Bible,  468,  469. 

Peopling ,  of  the  earth  among  the  sons  of 
Noah,  iii.  12S;  of  America,  conflicting 
theories  on,  153;  difficulties  in  the  way 
of,  171 ;  a  subject  beyond  the  assaults 
of  geologists,  173. 

Perfect  Eights  the  only  ones  protected  by 
human  laws,  iii.  487. 

Perfection  of  the  character  of  Washing¬ 
ton,  iii.  258. 

Pericles  referred  to,  iii.  326. 

Periodical  Literature,  modern,  on  man’s 
primeval  savageism,  iii.  88. 

Perizonius  and  others  on  Plato’s  sunk 
Atlantis,  iii.  156. 

Permanence  in  the  varieties  of  the  human 
race,  iii.  175. 

Pernicious  Maxims,  many  popular,  pointed 
out,  i.  ISO. 

Persecuting  Spirit,  still  alive  in  Christen¬ 
dom,  ii.  350,  370  ;  condemned  by  Christ, 
681;  whence  derived,  iii.  200. 

Persecution,  among  Protestant  Christians, 
ii.  314;  of  heretics,  the  common  sin 
of  Christendom,  350,  351  ;  among  the 
early  American  colonists,  374-376;  for 
opinion,  the  worst  of  all  heresies,  iii. 
213;  its  essential  elements  defined  and 
illustrated,  212. 

Persecutors,  among  professing  Christians, 
ii.  315;  cannot  be  true  Christians,  681. 

Persians,  their  destruction  of  learning 
and  art  in  Egypt,  iii.  145. 

Personal  Experience  of  a  change  of  heart, 
how  tested,  ii.  397. 

Persons  of  the  Trinity,  unsatisfactory  il¬ 
lustrations  of,  ii.  675. 

Peruvians  and  Mexicans  not  civilized,  iii. 
118. 

Pestalozzi  and  other  educators  referred 
to,  i.  521. 

Peter  the  Hermit,  a  saintly  popular 
demagogue,  iii.  496. 

Pettifogging  Lawyers  and  their  compeers, 
i.  488. 

Piiaraoii,  the  hardening  of  the  heart  of 
king,  ii.  683. 

Pharisees  still  numerous  in  the  church,  ii. 
271. 

Pharmacy,  a  branch  of  medical  science, 
defined,  i.  59S;  its  importance  in  Eu¬ 
ropean  schools,  599. 

Phelps,  Anson  G.,  referred  to,  iii.  597. 

Philanthropists  of  Europe,  discourage¬ 
ments  of,  i.  139. 

Philip,  the  deacon,  in  what  capacity  he 
preached,  iii.  428. 


Philosophies,  human,  powerless  compared 
with  the  gospel,  ii.  650. 

Philosophy,  its  early  cultivation  in  Egypt, 
iii.  140  ;  Greek  and  Roman,  early  mixed 
with  the. gospel,  200  ;  of  Newton  and 
Bacon,  its  spirit  of  inquiry,  i.  283  ;  un¬ 
reasonable,  in  dogmatizing  as  to  man’s 
primitive  state,  iii.  147. 

Piiocion  instanced,  with  Hampden,  i.  266. 

Phoenicians,  their  extensive  voyages,  iii. 
168;  concealed  their  art  of  navigation, 
169 ;  brought  gold  and  silver  from 
America,  170;  belonged  to  the  Cau¬ 
casian  variety,  though  Hamites,  175. 

Physicians,  responsibilities  of,  i.  220 ;  op¬ 
pose  ardent  spirits  as  a  beverage,  iii. 
516;  their  testimony,  519;  object  to 
wine  as  a  beverage,  530. 

Physiological  Distinctions  not  to  be  con¬ 
founded  with  genealogical,  iii.  175. 

Picart  and  Petavius  on  early  popula¬ 
tion  of  the  earth,  iii.  17  7. 

Picture,  of  an  ungodly  young  man,  ii. 
152-154;  of  hypocrisy  and  selfishness 
in  the  church,  273,  274. 

Piety,  early,  recommended,  a  sermon,  ii. 

121. 

Pilgrims  of  Plymouth  Rock  referred  to, 
ii.  713. 

Pillars  of  Hercules  once  the  extreme 
western  limits,  iii.  157. 

Pioneers  in  science  and  art,  ii.  417. 

Pitt,  William,  referred  to,  iii.  326. 

Pizarro  and  other  examples  of  decision 
of  character,  ii.  254. 

Plans  of  aiding  the  suffering  poor,  many 
objectionable,  iii.  599. 

Plato,  his  indebtedness  to  the  schools  of 
Egypt,  iii.  149 ;  his  account  of  the  lost 
Atlantis,  156, 157  ;  confirmed  by  Moses, 
161 ;  like  Moses,  skilled  in  Egyptian 
learning,  161. 

Plea,  for  the  Theological  Seminary  at 
Princeton,  a  discourse,  ii.  33;  none  for 
the  finally  impenitent,  708,  709;  for 
the  University  of  Nashville  in  1S29,  i. 
209. 

Pleasing  God  rather  than  men,  a  sermon, 
ii.  249. 

Plebeian  Classes  in  England  excluded  from 
public  affairs,  iii.  253. 

Plenary  Inspiration  of  the  Bible  explained, 

ii.  666. 

Plymouth  Rock,  the  colony  of,  i.  452. 

Poetry,  of  Greece  and  Italy,  why  repre¬ 
senting  the  ancients  as  savages,  iii.  120  ; 
influence  on  the  early  history  of  man, 
122.. 

Polemic  Dogmatism  of  theology  repudiated, 

iii.  206. 

Policy,  of  taxing  land,  reasons  against,  i. 
489-494;  of  Washington’s  administra¬ 
tion,  iii.  259;  of  our  first  Congress,  on 
banks,  wise  and  cautious,  335,  336 ; 
American,  too  fluctuating  to  be  sound 


INDEX. 


and  good.  346  ;  the  gigantic  protective, 
of  England,  383;  our  true,  as  to  manu¬ 
facturers,  384. 

Political  Creeds,  intolerance  of,  ii.  346. 

Political  Economy,  the  science  of,  i.  240  ; 
as  taught  by  Adam  Smith,  286;  a  branch 
of  practical  ethics,  292;  on  the  taxing 
of  land,  489;  on  intemperance,  iii.  526; 
a  special  study  of  Dr.  Lindsley,  047. 

Political  Pharisaism,  the  remedy  for,  iii. 
497. 

Political  Questions  difficult  to  adjust,  i. 
336. 

Political  Reform,  difficult  with  a'  heredi¬ 
tary  nobility,  iii.  253. 

Political  Systems  most  erroneous,  iii.  193. 

Political  Tests,  iii.  310,  311. 

Political  Training  essential  to  self-gov¬ 
ernment,  iii.  242. 

Politician,  requirements  of  an  American, 
i.  288. 

Politicians,  their  arts  described,  iii.  279  ; 
how  they  get  power,  301. 

Politics,  national,  all-controlling  influence 
of,  iii.  309. 

Polygamy,  made  a  ground  of  objection  to 
the  Bible,  ii.  683  ;  not  to  be  tolerated  on 
a  plea  of  conscience,  iii.  426. 

P once  de  Leox,  his  famous  fountain  traced 
to  JElian,  iii.  168, 

Poor,  mainly  benefited  by  home  colleges, 
i.  78;  how  they  may  be  liberally  edu¬ 
cated,  96;  taxation  of,  148  ;  their  mode 
of  rising  in  society,  149  ;  should  be  edu¬ 
cated  gratuitously,  346 ;  their  defenders, 
392 ;  relieved  by  being  taught  to  help 
themselves,  496 ;  their  claims  on  the 
rich,  ii.  36;  their  taxation  for  strong- 
drink,  iii.  526;  as  much  in  danger  of 
coveting  as  the  rich,  595;  their  widows 
and  orphans  to  be  cared  for,  596;  their 
position  in  Europe  and  America,  i.  148; 
their  relations  to  the  rich,  229. 

Poor  Youth,  how  they  may  go  through 
college,  i.  145,  ii.  263. 

Pope  of  Rome,  held  to  be  Antichrist  by  the 
Reformers,  iii.  415;  his  subjects  in  the 
United  States,  425. 

Popery,  growth  of  its  power  in  the  Middle 
Ages,  iii.  203. 

Popes,  de  facto,  of  our  times,  iii.  205 ;  cle¬ 
rical  and  democratic,  301. 

Populace,  none  in  our  country  in  the  Eng¬ 
lish  sense,  iii.  242. 

Popular  Charity,  estimate  of,  ii.  266. 

Popular  Demagogues,  how  they  ruin  the 
people,  i.  335,  337. 

Popular  Education,  its  legitimate  ends,  i. 
301;  a  lecture  on,  463 ;  commended  to 
the  young  as  a  sacred  cause,  351  ; 
thoughts  on,  in  Tennessee,  643  ;  retarded 
by  reliance  on  State  aid,  644;  how  to 
be  made  universal,  646 ;  essential  to 
farmers  and  mechanics,  iii.  304,  395 ; 
folly  respecting,  604. 


Popular  Fallacies,  I.  293 
public  evils,  iii.  495. 
Popular  Prejudice  to  be 
394. 


;  the  source  of 
disregarded,  iii. 


Popularity  no  test  of  merit  in  schools  and 
colleges,  i.  568. 

Population,  rapid  increase  of  American, 
i.  467  ;  of  the  South  and  West,  scattered, 
498;  the  earth’s,  in  the  times  of  Nimrod 
and  Peleg,  immense,  iii.  130,  177  ;  of  the 
antediluvian  world,  very  great,  99;  fa¬ 
vourable  to  the  progress  of  the  arts,  when 
great,  100  ;  inconsistent  with  an  uncivil¬ 
ized  state,  100  ;  decline  and  increase  in 
different  ages,  182;  of  the  Reman  Em¬ 
pire  in  the  days  of  Augustus,  181. 

Porcupine  Family,  in  England,  referred 
to,  iii.  176. 

Porson  and  other  Greek  scholars  referred 
to,  i.  Ill,  523. 

Porter,  Dr.  Ebenezer,  his  testimony  to 
Presbyterianism,  iii.  438. 

Position,  the  author  defines  his  own,  iii. 
315. 


Poverty,  what  it  means  in  our  country,  i. 
228;  not  the  necessary  lot  of  an  Ameri¬ 
can,  228;  no  qualification  for  office,  iii. 
282 ;  in  our  country,  mostly  springs 
from  idleness  or  crime,  596  ;  how  repre¬ 
sented  in  the  Scriptures,  599. 

Power,  of  the  President  of  the  United 
States,  vast,  iii.  324,  825  ;  how  exercised 
towards  his  subordinates,  326,  327;  of 
the  United  States  to  charter  a  bank, 
335,  336. 

Practical  Heresies  often  ignored  by  the 
pulpit,  ii.  325. 

Practical  Persecutors  among  the  Protest¬ 
ant  Reformers,  ii.  315. 

Practiced  Tiuih  the  most  important  to  be 
understood,  i.  179. 

Practice  the  only  sure  test  of  orthodoxy, 
i.  324. 

Prayer,  the  eluty  anel  privilege,  ii.  573  ;  a 
characteristic  of  the  spiritually-minded, 
573;  necessaiy  to  salvation,  720. 

Preache)  s,  neeel  a  large  stock  of  know¬ 
ledge,  i.  443;  sectarian  and  uncharita¬ 
ble,  reproved,  319. 

Preaching  on  the  mysteries  of  God,  a 
means  of  salvation,  ii.  648,  649. 

Precious  Metals  of  the  ancients,  probably 
from  America,  iii.  170. 

Prejudice,  against  college  officers,  cruel 
andunjust,  i.  116  :  in  our  country  against 
learning,  ii.  44,  45;  against  the  gospel 
unreasonable,  481  ;  concerning  the  pri¬ 
mitive  state  of  man,  iii.  81  ;  definition 
and  illustration  of,  191;  the  source  of 
differences  among  Christians,  199;  con¬ 
firmed  by  bitter  religious  controversies, 
209;  example  of  the  power  of,  214. 

Prejudices,  religious,  Dr.  Lindsley’s  arti¬ 
cle  on,  iii.  191  ;  political  and  religious, 
inveterate,  193  ;  some  salutary,  some  in- 


716 


IXDEX. 


jurious,  193;  against  temperance  socie¬ 
ties,  hard  to  overcome,  566. 

Prelatists,  their  high  claims,  iii.  410; 
lordly  power  of,  as  proclaimed  by  Ban¬ 
croft  in  1588,  414. 

Preordination  of  God  a  doctrine  to  be  be¬ 
lieved,  ii.  673. 

Preparation  for  coming  to  the  Lord’s  ta¬ 
ble,  ii.  541-551. 

Presbyter,  title  of  the  highest  ruler  in  the 
apostolic  church,  iii.  429;  the  only  true 
apostolic  bishop,  429. 

Presbyters,  identical  in  meaning  with 
bishops,  iii.  409;  their  number  in  the 
primitive  church,  410. 

Presbytery,  early  perverted  from  its  scrip¬ 
tural  simplicity,  iii.  429 ;  mode  of  its 
perversion  in  our  times,  430  ;  the  only 
scriptural  episcopacy,  444 ;  of  New 
Brunswick  and  Princeton  Seminary,  ii. 
70. 

Presbyterian  Bishops,  duty  of,  to  teach  the 
people  church  government,  ii.  338;  may 
be  men  of  apostolic  spirit,  339. 

Presbyterian  Calvinism  not  fatalism,  ii. 
359. 

Presbyterian  Church,  its  attitude  in  1833, 

ii.  370  ;  its  government  the  best  in  the 
world,  338 ;  its  history  and  martyr-spirit 
in  Scotland,  iii.  407,  40S;  to  what  extent 
jure  divino,  428;  its  full  accordance 
with  the  gospel.  428  ;  its  principles,  as 
adopted  in  the  United  States,  432,  433; 
how  changed  to  episcopacy,  430  ;  its 
scriptural  officers  acknowledged,  438; 
its  form  of  polity  not  held  to  be  abso¬ 
lutely  perfect,  399,  439 ;  elementary 
principles  of,  400-404;  defects  of,  440. 

Presbyterian  Clergy,  devoted  to  the  cause 
of  liberty,  ii.  75;  at  times  persecute 
each  other,  354;  falsely  accused  by  Jef¬ 
ferson,  355  ;  all  whigs  in  the  Revolution, 
354;  what  they  are  bound  to  believe 
and  teach,  356;  may  be  rigidly  ortho¬ 
dox  and  yet  unchristian,  iii.  450. 

Presbyterian  Colonists  in  New  Jersey  never 
persecuted,  ii.  376. 

Presbyterian  Confession  quoted  on  liberty 
of  conscience,  ii.  376. 

Presbyterianism,  a  democratic  system,  ii. 
58,  59  ;  as  held  by  Dr.  Lindsley,  346 ; 
its  battle  with  kingcraft  in  Scotland, 

iii.  407;  its  infancy  under  Roman  des¬ 
potism,  408 ;  its  genius  accords  with 
pure  republicanism,  406 ;  its  position 
under  state  rule  in  Geneva  and  Holland, 
408  ;  its  action  when  free  and  when  es¬ 
tablished  by  law,  409 ;  the  only  apos¬ 
tolic  system  of  church  government,  428  ; 
why  it  did  not  gain  a  foothold  in  Eng¬ 
land,  431 ;  why  adopted  by  the  West¬ 
minster  Assembly,  437  ;  a  little  Congra- 
gationalized,  438. 

Presbyterians,  their  early  efforts  for  Prince¬ 
ton  Seminary,  ii.  74;  their  claims  as  to 


church  government,  337  ;  not  to  be  con¬ 
founded  with  Puritans,  352  ;  never  per¬ 
secuted  on  American  soil,  352,  353; 
most  whigs  in  the  Revolutionary  War, 
354;  their  position  in  Maryland,  375; 
disposed  to  glory  in  their  church  polit}r, 
iii.  406 ;  stand  on  strong  scriptural 
ground,  406;  how  treated  by  European 
governments,  423  ;  asserted  their  inde¬ 
pendence  in  the  American  colonies, 
423;  their  polity  clearly  laid  down  in 
their  standards,  427  ;  their  character  for 
piety  and  learning  in  all  ages,  432; 
opinions  on  liberty  of  conscience  and 
church  power,  433 ;  always  zealous  in 
the  cause  of  education,  433 ;  insist  on 
an  educated  ministry,  434;  not  inimical 
to  constitutional  monarchy,  407;  their 
sympathies  in  the  American  and  French 
Revolutions,  408 ;  approve  episcopacy  on 
scriptural  grounds,  419,  420  ;  supporters 
of  schools,  colleges,  and  theological 
seminaries,  434;  never  afraid  of  argu¬ 
ment  and  free  inquiry,  434;  catholic 
and  liberal  towards  other  churches,  435 ; 
conservative  and  temperate  on  all  poli¬ 
tical  questions,  435;  do  not  attack  other 
churches,  436 ;  quarrel  with  each  other, 
but  all  defend  their  standards,  436 ;  do 
not  seek  to  make  proselytes,  437  ;  a  law- 
abiding  and  loyal  people,  439  ;  follow 
the  usages  of  civil  government,  440  ; 
what  they  hold  and  claim  on  church 
government,  444;  much  spoken  against 
for  being  Calvinists,  446 ;  should  study 
their  own  form  of  government,  448 ; 
how  they  should  treat  other  churches, 
452  ;  concede  equal  rights  to  all  Chris¬ 
tians,  453  ;  neither  ask  nor  acknowledge 
superiority,  465. 

Presbyterians  of  Scotland,  all  hold  the 
old  book  of  their  fathers,  iii.  436;  always 
loyal  to  the  British  crown,  407;  their 
heroic  and  martyr  spirit,  408. 

Presbyteries  and  Synods,  courtesy  of, 
due  to  corresponding  members,  iii. 
454. 

President  of  the  United  States,  his  power 
of  appointment  and  removal,  iii.  321— 
323,  348 ;  limited  by  the  Senate,  322 ; 
anti-democratic,  323,  324 ;  should  not 
have  a  veto,  344;  should  remove  from 
office  only  pro  tempore,  344;  in  case  of 
death,  his  successor  should  be  elected 
by  the  electoral  college,  344;  should  be 
elected  directly  by  the  people,  345  ;  how 
he  should  act  on  a  point  of  conscience, 
348,  349;  should  be  shut  out  from  the 
legislature,  349  ;  his  conscience  cannot 
stand  for  law,  369. 

Pretensions  to  learning  rebuked,  i.  609. 
610. 

Prevention,  of  crime,  less  costly  than  its 
punishment,  i.  150;  of  disease  not  ef¬ 
fected  by  ardent  spirits,  iii.  519;  of 


INDEX. 


717 


drunkenness,  total  abstinence  the  only 
effective,  534. 

Pride,  of  philosophy,  its  danger  in  religion, 
ii.  659;  of  system,  its  tendency  to  lead 
into  error,  82. 

Priestcraft,  enormities  of,  ii.  309. 

Priesthood,  Egyptian,  described  by  Diodo¬ 
rus  Siculus,  iii.  138;  Levitical  and  Epis¬ 
copal,  compared,  448. 

Priestley,  Dr.  Joseph,  an  instance  of 
strong  religious  prejudice,  iii.  215. 

Priestly,  Dr.  James,  President  of  Cum¬ 
berland  College,  eulogy  on,  i.  117,  362. 

Priests,  Romish,  their  spirit  and  ambitious 
aims,  i.  314;  why  opposed  to  the  circu¬ 
lating  of  the  Bible,  iii.  498. 

Priests  and  Prophets,  necessity  for  learn¬ 
ing  among,  ii.  42. 

Primary  Schools,  indispensable  importance 
of,  i.  79. 

Primate  of  all  England,  titles  and  powers 
of,  iii.  418. 

Primeval  Civilization  of  man  proved  from 
reason,  revelation,  and  history,  iii.  84. 

Primeval  Savageism  of  man  an  indefensi¬ 
ble  dogma,  iii.  151. 

Primitive  Christians  bound  by  oath  against 
wickedness,  iii.  540. 

Primitive  Navigators  must  have  had  the 
compass  or  similar  instruments,  iii.  169. 

Primitive  State  of  man,  theories  of,  i.  68  ; 
writers  on,  largely  referred  to,  iii.  88 ; 
source  of  misconception  respecting,  82 ; 
its  savageism  contradicted  by  history, 
81,  112,  126. 

Princeton,  theological  seminary  of,  referred 
to,  i.  87  ;  object  of  its  founders,  ii.  39,  40  ; 
its  blessed  fruits  realized,  82,  230;  sol¬ 
emn  appeal  in  behalf  of,  74. 

Principles,  of  college  government,  pointed 
out,  i.  113  ;  of  free  trade,  opposed  by  the 
practice  of  all  nations,  iii.  382. 

Printers’  Art,  its  influence  on  modern  civ¬ 
ilization,  iii.  237. 

Printers’  Blunders,  an  article  on,  iii.  639. 

Printing  Press,  its  influence  on  the  world, 
ii.  417 ;  its  power  to  preserve  and  per¬ 
petuate  knowledge,  iii.  116. 

Prisons  and  Penitentiaries,  expenses  of,  i. 
150;  discipline  of,  in  the  United  States, 
249. 

Private  Education  for  the  ministry,  its 
disadvantages,  ii.  54. 

Private  Interpretation  of  Scripture,  the 
right  of,  defended,  ii.  342. 

Privileges,  religious  and  social,  under  the 
gospel,  ii.  711. 

Prize  of  immortal  life  set  before  us  in  the 
gospel,  ii.  709. 

Problem,  of  a  future  state,  never  solved  by 
philosophy,  ii.  696;  of  the  peopling  of 
America,  how  solved,  iii.  156,  161  ;  of 
self-government  in  America,  i.  199. 

Problems  of  history  all  solved  by  the  doc¬ 
trine  of  a  divine  government,  ii.  449. 


Procrastination  in  religion,  absurd,  ii. 
717 ;  why  indulged  in  by  the  impeni¬ 
tent,  718. 

Prodigal  Son  of  the  parable  an  example 
for  sinners,  ii.  717. 

Prodigious  Prediction,  an  article,  iii.  647. 

Profanation  of  the  Sabbath,  its  effect  in 
France,  ii.  109. 

Profession,  the  medical,  its  influence  on 
temperance  reform,  iii.  517;  of  the 
teacher,  magnified,  i.  36;  its  qualifica¬ 
tions  and  responsibilities,  525. 

Professional  Business,  its  effects  on  the 
mind,  i.  123. 

Professional  Charlatanry  illustrated,  i. 

610. 

Professional  Knowledge  not  enough  for 
professional  men,  i.  123. 

Professions,  various,  in  life,  described,  ii. 
150-152. 

Professor  of  Biblical  Archaeology  at  New 
Albany,  iii.  399 ;  of  civil  engineering 
needed  in  our  colleges,  i.  421. 

Professors,  required  in  a  university,  i.  410 ; 
their  number,  401;  their  honours  and 
emoluments  in  Germany,  404;  their 
classification,  iii.  272;  of  religion,  seve¬ 
ral  classes  of,  ii.  543. 

Programme  of  a  university  marked  out,  i. 
410,  411. 

Progress,  of  arts  among  the  antediluvians, 
iii.  100;  of  civilization  during  the  last 
hundred  years,  238;  of  the  drunkard 
downward,  581. 

Prohibition,  total,  of  foreign  commodities, 
sometimes  wise,  iii.  378,  379. 

Projects  of  future  education  visionary  and 
delusive,  i.  499. 

Property,  always  pays  taxes,  not  poverty, 

i.  148 ;  qualifications  of,  not  wise,  as 
limiting  the  right  to  vote,  484  ;  how  far 
desirable  as  an  inheritance  for  children, 

ii.  35. 

Prophecies,  Scriptural,  three  classes  of,  ii. 
669  ;  fulfilled,  always  open  to  investiga¬ 
tion,  669. 

Prophets,  had  no  successors,  strictly  speak¬ 
ing,  iii.  409;  and  other  officers  of  the 
New  Testament  church,  447. 

Prophets  and  Apostles  of  the  Bible  not 
ignorant  men,  i.  144. 

Propositions  of  the  Bible,  not  mysterious, 
ii.  671  :  worthy  of  belief,  although  terms 
not  fully  comprehended,  680. 

Prosperity  of  our  country,  dangers  arising 
from,  i.  335. 

Protection  of  home  industry,  policy  of,  de¬ 
fended,  iii.  385. 

Protective  Duties  antagonistic  to  free 
trade,  iii.  383. 

Protestant  Christians,  their  long  neglect 
of  heathen  nations,  ii.  430:  united  in 
the  Bible  Society,  iii.  501 ;  ought  to 
support  it  liberally,  502;  causes  of  divi¬ 
sions  among,  430. 


718 


INDEX. 


Protestant  Clergy,  illiberality  and  bitter-  | 
ness  of,  iii.  207;  their  grounds  of  differ¬ 
ence  small,  208. 

Protestant  Creeds,  similarity  of,  ii.  347. 

Protestant  Europe,  a  sad  spectacle  of  divi¬ 
sions  among  its  Reformed  churches,  ii. 
430 ;  what  it  owes  to  the  Bible,  iii. 
469. 

Protestantism ,  its  whole  history  full  of  in¬ 
stances  of  folly,  iii.  208. 

Protestants,  divisions  among,  ii.  430  ; 
their  common  principle  of  church  gov¬ 
ernment,  iii.  404;  their  sole  rule  of 
faith,  451  ;  challenge  the  exercise  of 
every  man’s  reason,  464 ;  divided  into 
rival  sects  soon  after  the  Reformation, 
461;  ought  to  have  circulated  the  Bible 
from  the  first,  461. 

Providence  of  God,  special,  universal,  ex¬ 
ternal,  ii.  444-446;  a  source  of  joy  to 
men,  447  ;  embraces  all  things,  673. 

Public  Colleges  should  not  be  sectarian,  i. 
257. 

Public  Education,  its  paramount  value,  i. 
486 ;  essential  for  ministers  of  the  gos¬ 
pel,  ii.  48,  49. 

Public  Evils  removed  by  instructing  the 
people,  i.  340. 

Public  Life  full  of  dangers,  ii.  279. 

Public  Office,  not  to  be  coveted,  i.  289  ; 
for  whose  benefit  created,  291,  iii.  276. 

Public  Officers,  how  tested,  iii.  283 ;  to 
be  dealt  with  as  if  they  were  rogues, 
325,  359. 

Public  Opinion,  the  omnipotence  of,  iii. 
529,  534. 

Public  Press,  its  relation  to  science  and 
literature,  i.  612. 

Public  Schools,  for  all  classes,  advocated, 
i.  347;  the  system  of,  in  Connecticut, 
471;  in  Massachusetts,  473;  in  New 
York,  477. 

Public  Seminaries,  their  superior  advan¬ 
tages,  ii.  50. 

Public  Worship,  an  ordinance  of  God,  ii. 
100  ;  the  Sabbath  essential  to,  100  ;  the 
forms  of,  339 ;  too  often  a  mere  form, 
488. 

Pulpit,  its  great  power  when  worthily 
filled,  ii.  28,  29  ;  its  deplorable  defects  in 
our  day,  22 ;  its  zealots  often  guilty  of 
bearing  false  witness,  i.  320. 

Punch  and  a  Bishop,  article  on,  iii.  616. 

Punishment,  of  sin,  not  confined  to  this 
life,  ii.  624;  reasonable  and  just,  689; 
eternal,  because  sin  will  never  cease, 
690,  691 ;  proportionate  to  the  offence, 
690 ;  of  crime  costs  more  than  the  edu¬ 
cation  which  would  prevent  it,  i.  150  : 
often  evaded,  iii.  546 ;  of  delinquent 
bank  officers,  366. 

Pupils  of  Dr.  Lindsley,  their  number  and 
character,  i.  54. 

Pure  Religion,  constituent  elements  of,  ii. 

681. 


|  Pure  Wine,  its  use  not  prohibited  in 
Scripture,  iii.  531. 

Puritans .  English,  why  mostly  Independ¬ 
ents,  iii.  431;  inclined  to  Presbyterianism 
at  first,  431 ;  Hall’s  work  on,  414;  of  New 
England  inclined  to  Presbytery,  434 ; 
their  modern  descendants  greatly  apos¬ 
tate  from  the  ancient  faith,  ii.  713. 

Pursuits  of  ambition  delusive  and  danger¬ 
ous,  ii.  277-280. 

Pyramids  of  Egypt,  social  condition  of 
their  builders,  iii.  133. 

Pythagoras,  an  example  of  diligent,  labo¬ 
rious  study,  ii.  178  ;  origin  of  his  theory 
of  the  sun  as  the  centre  of  the  universe, 
iii.  143;  where  he  learned  astronomy, 
148;  why  persecuted  at  home,  14S;  his 
doctrine,  how  discovered  and  lost,  144. 

Q 

Quack  Doctors  classified,  i.  488. 

Quackery  in  teaching,  i.  390. 

Quakers,  proverbial  for  veracity  without 
an  oath,  i.  294;  their  opposition  to  ar¬ 
dent  spirits,  iii.  539. 

Quasi-Episcopacy,  how  it  might  be  intro¬ 
duced  into  the  Presbyterian  Church,  iii. 
430. 

Queen  Elizabeth,  her  remark  at  the  ap¬ 
proach  of  death,  ii.  221. 

Question,  the  old  one  between  England 
and  America,  iii.  234. 

Qui  facit  per  a lium  f  acit  per  se.  iii.  425. 

Quinctilian  advocated  the  superiority  of 
a  public  education,  i.  66,  ii.  48 ;  his 
opinion  that  speech  was  the  gift  of  God, 
iii.  93. 

Quixotic  Efforts  of  New  England  philan¬ 
thropy,  i.  509,  iii.  670. 

R 

Races  of  man  as  distinctly  marked  at  the 
dawn  of  history  as  at  the  present  day, 
iii.  174. 

Radicalism,  prevalence  of  its  various 
forms,  i.  398. 

Raleigh,  Sir  Walter,  his  estimate  of 
learning  at  death,  i.  276. 

Ramsay",  Dr.  David,  on  established 
churches  in  Virginia  and  Maryland,  ii. 
375. 

Rational  Christianity,  its  insidious  dis¬ 
guises,  ii.  77. 

Reading,  new  mode  of  teaching  the  art  of, 

i.  513  ;  of  books,  not  always  profitable, 

ii.  243;  superficial,  tends  to  enervate 
the  mind,  i.  109. 

Reading  and  Writing,  ignorance  of,  in 
England  and  America,  i.  238;  proper 
qualifications  for  voting,  484. 

Reason,  human,  unable  to  solve  the  pro¬ 
blem  of  our  salvation,  ii.  391  ;  insufficient 
j  to  discover  any  scheme  of  redemption, 


INDEX, 


719 


037  ;  its  office  in  science  and  philosophy,  J 
661;  satisfied  to  believe  on  testimony, 
676;  not  contradicted  by  Scripture, 
677;  its  province  as  to  testimony,  678; 
proof  from,  in  favor  of  man’s  primeval 
civilization,  iii.  84. 

Reasoning,  in  a  circle,  example  of,  ii.  689; 
of  the  impenitent,  false  and  fatal,  718; 
fallacious  mode  of,  touching  ancient 
Egypt,  iii.  145. 

Reasons  for  serving  God  in  youth,  ii.  128. 

Rebellion  in  Rhode  Island  under  Dorr,  iii. 
298. 

Reciprocity,  courteous,  the  only  rule  of 
church  fellowship,  ii.  366,  iii.  453. 

Recollections,  Dr.  Lindsley’s,  of  the  death 
of  Washington,  iii.  231. 

Redeemer  of  man  merciful  and  gracious, 
iii.  489. 

Redeeming  of  time,  what  it  imports,  ii. 
203. 

Redemption,  scheme  of,  as  represented  by 
Paul,  ii.  6  15. 

Reductio  ad  Absurdam,  applied  to  the 
Epicurean  theory,  iii.  97. 

Reform,  in  office,  how  effected,  iii.  281 ;  in 
state  politics  needed,  309;  in  the  legis¬ 
lature,  288. 

Reformation,  moral,  the  first  step  towards, 
i.  151 ;  must  be  founded  on  the  Bible, 
iii.  483;  in  prisons  effected  only  by  the 
Bible,  544;  of  criminals,  not  the  sole 
end  of  punishment,  i.  248  ;  of  hardened 
criminals  visionary,  250  ;  of  life,  exhor¬ 
tations  to,  ii.  175,  176;  of  the  drunkard 
once  regarded  as  hopeless,  iii.  507  ;  the 
temperance,  its  achievements,  527;  its 
origin  in  the  United  States,  533;  its 
progress  over  the  world,  533;  needed  in 
our  school  systems,  i.  144;  of  the  six¬ 
teenth  century,  the  commencement  of 
a  brighter  era,  i.  72,  iii.  461 ;  the  result 
of  the  restoration  of  learning,  i.  343  ;  its 
influence  marred  by  party  strife,  ii.  429. 

Reformed  Churches  of  the  sixteenth  cen¬ 
tury  all  Calvinistic  in  doctrine,  ii.  348. 

Reformers,  of  the  church,  men  of  great 
learning;  ii.  46;  sometimes  intolerant 
persecutors,  314;  early  English,  recog¬ 
nized  non-episcopal  churches,  iii.  411; 
Puritan,  denied  the  church  of  Rome  to 
be  a  true  church,  415. 

Regeneration,  why  necessary  for  man,  ii. 
381,  382  ;  a  matter  to  be  tested  only  by 
experience,  394;  the  fruits  of,  395;  ne¬ 
cessary  to  salvation,  512;  the  work  of 
the  Holy  Spirit,  513  ;  a  doctrine  clearly 
taught  in  Scripture,  686;  a  mystery  to 
the  natural  man,  700. 

Regrets  on  a  dying  bed,  iii.  502,  604. 

Religion,  Christian,  essential  in  every  sys¬ 
tem  of  education,  i.  47,  48  ;  indispensa¬ 
ble  for  all  men,  168,  304;  its  rank 
among  well-educated  people,  304;  com¬ 
mended  to  young  men,  550-552;  pro¬ 


gress  of  the  Christian,  in  the  first  three 
centuries,  iii.  421 ;  of  the  Bible  the  only 
one  worthy  of  credit,  474;  alone  in  re¬ 
fusing  state  alliances, 492 ;  in  the  United 
States  free  of  all  state  trammels,  422  ; 
a  false  one  better  than  none,  193. 

Religions  all  alike  protected  in  our  coun¬ 
try,  i.  318. 

Religious  Differences,  their  influence  on 
popular  education,  i.  645. 

Religious  Education  need  not  be  secta¬ 
rian,  i.  51. 

Religious  Establishments,  i.  310. 

Religious  Liberty,  perfect  only  in  America, 
i.  312,  iii.  424,  498;  denied  to  Roman 
Catholics  by  their  rulers,  425,  426. 

Religious  Partisans  dangerous  to  the 
country,  i.  316. 

Religious  Passion  the  most  uncontrolla¬ 
ble,  i.  316. 

Religious  Prejudices,  article  on,  iii.  191; 
not  to  be  eradicated  by  opposition,  193; 
removed  only  with  caution,  194. 

Religious  Principle,  the  power  of,  i.  165. 

Religious  Sects,  their  proselyting  schools 
and  colleges,  i.  256. 

Remedy,  the  only  one  yet  found  for  intem¬ 
perance,  iii.  510  ;  for  the  present  vicious 
banking  system,  552. 

Reminiscences  of  Dr.  Stanhope  Smith,  iii. 
652. 

Removal  from  office  by  the  President,  iii. 
341. 

Repentance,  doctrine  of,  proclaimed  in  Ju¬ 
dea,  ii.  194;  nature  of  evangelical,  de¬ 
fined,  596 ;  connected  with  faith,  599, 
606;  first  step  in  the  exercise  of,  600; 
motives  to,  601  ;  necessity  of,  602;  rea¬ 
sonableness  of,  613  :  essential  to  salva¬ 
tion,  615  ;  blessed  results,  61  7  ;  prompted 
by  a  view  of  Christ's  sufferings,  618  ; 
urged  as  a  duty  on  all,  619;  calls  to, 
621 ;  commanded  by  God,  626. 

Representative  System  of  government  un¬ 
known  to  the  people  of  Europe,  iii.  241. 

Representatives  of  the  people  should  be 
educated  men.  i.  447. 

Republic,  American,  not  ungrateful  to  its 
benefactors,  iii.  229 ;  maintained  by  in¬ 
telligence  and  the  gospel,  i.  327,  455  ; 
dangers  and  destiny,  349,  466 ;  not  to 
be  despaired  of,  344;  the  Liberian,  in 
advance  of  any  republic  of  Spanish 
America  or  Europe,  iii.  579. 

Republican  Government,  excellency  of,  in 
America,  i.  78;  the  growth  of  two  cen¬ 
turies,  iii.  245 ;  its  forms  may  be  re¬ 
tained  when  the  spirit  is  gone,  256; 
how  maintained  in  its  purity,  i.  469 ; 
name  of,  579. 

Republicans,  the  inconsistencies  of,  i.  214, 
466. 

Republics .  the  ancient,  different  from  ours 
as  to  origin,  iii.  245 ;  possible  after  the 
destruction  of  our  present  Union,  255. 


720 


INDEX. 


Researches  in  Egypt  confirm  the  sacred 
and  classical  historians,  iii.  148. 

Resemblance  between  the  inhabitants  of 
Northwestern  Europe  and  Northeastern 
America,  iii.  173. 

Resignation,  the  duty  of  Christian,  i.  452. 

Resistance  to  the  Federal  Constitution,  iii. 
310. 

Responsibility,  of  bank-officers,  iii.  366; 
of  educated  men,  i.  173. 

Restitution,  the  duty  of  Christians  to 
make,  ii.  320. 

Result  of  the  license  system,  to  increase 
drunkenness,  iii.  391. 

Resurrection  of  the  dead,  in  what  sense  a 
mystery,  ii.  640 ;  credible  as  a  fact  at¬ 
tested,  669:  its  mode  a  profound  mys¬ 
tery,  670. 

Retaliation,  the  spirit  of,  should  be  un¬ 
known  among  Christians,  iii.  452. 

Retrospect  of  the  past  year,  ii.  231. 

Revealed  Religion,  always  connected  with 
human  learning,  ii.  45-47;  not  confined 
to  the  cloister,  49  ;  its  essential  nature 
described,  106;  indispensable  to  man, 
109;  commended  to  the  young,  140; 
why  repulsive  to  the  young,  142,  143, 
168;  should  be  our  chief  concern,  234; 
its  terms  and  conditions,  237  ;  an  object 
of  instruction,  343 ;  does  not  consist  in 
single  acts  or  frames  of  mind,  363  ;  true 
experience  of,  lost  in  some  quarters, 
613 ;  its  relation  to  creeds  and  confes¬ 
sions,  345  ;  man’s  only  ground  of  hope, 
638  ;  its  influence  on  life  and  character, 
621. 

Revelation,  Divine,  decried  as  unnecessary 
by  infidels,  ii.  132;  necessity  for,  415  : 
man’s  agency  in  diffusing  the  know¬ 
ledge  of,  415 ;  the  unsolved  problems 
of,  424;  conditions  on  which  it  was 
made,  425 ;  new  and  universal  at  the 
advent  of  Christ,  428;  the  effects  of, 
650  ;  its  agreement  with  man’s  faculties, 
665 ;  the  sacred  writer’s  claims  to,  667  ; 
ceases  to  be  mysterious  as  far  as  made 
known,  668,  669;  not  against  or  above 
human  reason,  671  ;  of  things  above 
reason  not  incredible,  678. 

Revelations,  of  God,  to  Adam,  Noah,  and 
Abraham,  ii.  426;  given  in  the  earliest 
ages,  427. 

Revenue,  of  Harvard  University,  i.  216 ; 
of  government  most  easily  raised  by  a 
tariff,  iii.  377. 

Revolution,  American,  its  objects  and 
aims,  i.  76,  iii.  311  ;  our  aids  during  the 
war  of,  i.  139 ;  influence  on  the  world, 
iii.  239  ;  cause  of  its  successful  issue, 
240  ;  not  waged  against  monarchy, 
406. 

Revolution  in  popular  customs  a  difficult 
task,  iii.  509. 

Revolutions  in  modern  times,  why  unsuc¬ 
cessful,  iii.  239. 


Review,  North  American,  its  estimate  of 
Dr.  Lindsley,  iii.  78. 

Revival  of  religion  in  Nassau  Ilall  illus¬ 
trating  Presbyterian  liberality,  iii.  437. 

Rhode  Island,  religious  freedom  in,  ii. 
354;  the  Eden  of  democracy,  iii.  293. 

Rjcardo  and  other  writers,  i.  124. 

Rick,  Dr.  John  II.,  iii.  28. 

Rich  and  Poor,  how  related  to  society,  i. 
148. 

Riches,  a  limitation  in  the  pursuit  of,  ii. 
35;  the  love  of,  dangerous,  225;  article 
on,  iii.  589 ;  Scripture  texts  on,  590- 
592. 

Rich  Men,  the  difficulty  of  their  salvation, 
ii.  226,  iii.  600  ;  often  benefactors  of  our 
country  and  models  of  thrift,  596. 

Riding  Committee  of  the  church  of  Scot¬ 
land,  iii.  441. 

Rights  of  man,  as  understood  by  our  fore¬ 
fathers,  i.  176;  to  decide  for  himself 
what  is  Scripture,  ii.  665. 

Rights,  perfect  and  imperfect,  distin¬ 
guished,  iii.  479 ;  of  man  never  under¬ 
stood  by  pagan  nations,  489;  of  Eng¬ 
lishmen  asserted  by  our  fathers,  311; 
of  government  to  charter  a  bank,  336  ; 
of  the  States  under  the  Constitution, 
308,  310,  385;  of  the  President  to  re¬ 
move  from  office,  311  ;  of  woman  se¬ 
cured  by  the  Bible,  490. 

Rights  of  conscience,  allowed  when  con¬ 
sistent  with  other  rights,  iii.  426  ;  under¬ 
stood  by  all  sects  under  persecution, 
565;  how  violated  by  Roman  Catholic 
rulers,  425 ;  contended  for  by  the  Pres¬ 
byterian  Huguenots  of  France,  408; 
null  and  void  in  the  English  church, 
according  to  Hooker,  413;  not  affected 
by  the  existence  of  negro  slavery  in  our 
land,  580. 

Rigid  Presbyterians  may  be  sorry  Chris¬ 
tians,  ii.  339. 

Rising  Generation  saved  from  crime  only 
by  the  Bible,  iii.  484. 

Rites,  ceremonial,  not  the  essence  of  re¬ 
ligion,  ii.  364. 

Rittenhouse,  Dr.  David,  referred  to,  iii. 
396. 

Ritual  System,  its  basis,  iii.  427  ;  predomi¬ 
nates  in  established  churches,  427. 

Rival  Sects,  their  bitter  party  strifes,  i. 
315. 

Robertson,  Dr.  William,  his  History  of 
America,  on  man’s  original  state,  iii.  93  ; 
opinion  as  to  American  aborigines, 

118. 

Robinson,  Rev.  John,  his  testimony  to 
Presbyterian  church  officers,  iii.  438. 

Rociiefoucault  and  Chesterfield  re¬ 
ferred  to,  i.  195. 

Rochester  and  Gardiner,  warnings  to 
young  men,  ii.  153. 

Roger  Bacon  and  others  suffering  perse¬ 
cution  for  science,  i.  284. 


721 


INDEX. 


Rogues,  intelligent  and  astute,  escape  the 
laws,  iii.  486. 

Roman  Catholics ,  subject  to  spiritual 
despotism  in  America,  iii.  425,  426;  of 
Maryland,  by  whom  persecuted,  ii. 
353. 

Roman  Civilization  derived  from  the 
Greeks,  iii.  152. 

Roman  Consuls,  their  term  of  office,  iii. 
345 ;  stable  and  durable  policy  of,  345. 

Roman  Patriotism,  ancient,  the  glory  of, 

i.  353. 

Romish  Church,  pretended  miracles  of,  ii. 
668 ;  its  hierarchy  the  embodiment  of 
Antichrist,  iii.  422 ;  its  dogma  on  the 
creed,  553. 

Rotation  in  office,  to  what  extent  proper, 
i.  291. 

Rousseau,  J.  J.,  his  opinion  of  Christ,  ii. 
136. 

Royal  Interference  in  legislature  illus¬ 
trated,  iii.  350. 

Royal  Supremacy,  recognized  in  the  church 
of  England,  iii.  415 ;  a  fatal  and  cor¬ 
rupting  dogma,  416;  its  effect  on  civil 
and  religious  liberty,  416. 

Ruined  Structures  in  Central  America  and 
Mexico,  their  builders,  iii.  166. 

Ruinous  Heresy  on  the  part  of  farmers  and 
mechanics,  iii.  270. 

Rule,  the  two-thirds,  in  Congress,  should 
be  abolished,  iii.  344. 

Ruling  Elders,  testimony  of  Congrega- 
tionalists  in  favour  of,  iii.  438. 

Rumford,  Count,  and  all  self-made  men, 
indebted  to  colleges,  i.  342. 

Rush,  his  Charges,  quoted,  on  the  Sab¬ 
bath,  ii.  110. 

Rush,  Dr.  Benjamin,  an  advocate  of  tem¬ 
perance,  iii.  518. 

Russia  finding  her  real  strength  in  manu¬ 
factures,  iii.  380. 

Rutherford,  Rev.  Samuel,  in  the  West¬ 
minster  Assembly,  iii.  432. 

S 

Sabbath,  the  duty  of  observing,  ii.  87  ;  the 
day  changed  from  the  last  to  the  first  of 
the  week,  88 ;  prohibitions  on,  89 ;  its  rest 
intended  for  man  and  beast,  90 ;  works  of 
necessity  and  mercy  excepted,  but  not 
numerous,  92 ;  a  day  of  devotion,  94 ;  how 
made  a  delight  and  blessing,  95 ;  does  not 
require  austerity  and  superstition,  96  ; 
how  observed  by  our  Saviour,  97  ;  not 
violated  by  doing  good,  98  ;  its  sanctity 
not  violated  by  teaching  in  Sunday- 
schools,  99  ;  how  perverted  by  the  Jews, 
96  ;  its  proper  observance,  95  ;  reasons 
for  its  observance,  103  ;  not  an  arbitrary 
institution,  104  ;  essential  to  public  wor¬ 
ship,  105  ;  respect  for,  essential  to  Chris-  I 
tianity,  107 ;  advantages  as  a  discipline 
and  means  of  grace,  106;  its  shameful  j 

yol.  iii.— 46 


profanation  in  our  land,  10S;  violations 
of,  should  be  punished,  115. 

Sabbath- Breaker,  proverbial  bad  character 
of,  ii.  113;  criminality  of,  among  the 
Jews,  ii.  93. 

Sacerdotal  Colleges  of  ancient  Egypt,  iii. 
144. 

Sacred  Writers,  testify  to  their  own  in¬ 
spiration,  ii.  667 ;  strike  at  all  sin  in  its 
roots,  548. 

Sacrifice  of  Isaac  explained  and  defended, 

ii.  684,  685. 

Safeguards,  of  our  government,  pointed 
out,  iii.  257 ;  of  the  banking  system  in 
Scotland,  364. 

Salaries  of  American  judges,  considered, 

iii.  290. 

Sallust  and  other  Latin  authors  quoted, 
iii.  554. 

Salvation,  by  the  gospel,  wholly  of  divine 
grace,  ii.  87,  408 ;  the  only  true  method 
of,  392;  the  great  business  of  life,  404; 
offered  to  all  freely  and  made  attainable, 
406  ;  impossible  in  the  case  of  the  finally 
impenitent,  493;  not  secured  by  any 
works  of  legal  merit,  524;  rejected  by 
the  Jews,  702;  the  only  way  of  escape 
from  perdition,  703;  its  greatness,  704; 
its  fulness  and  freeness,  706;  the  gift 
of  God  through  Christ,  710 ;  adequate 
to  the  vilest  sinners,  716. 

Sanctification  of  the  Sabbath,  what  it  re¬ 
quires,  ii.  94. 

Saracens,  their  preservation  of  science 
and  literature,  i.  435. 

Satan,  character  of,  as  portrayed  by  Mil- 
ton,  ii.  256;  in  the  disguise  of  an  angel 
of  light,  in  the  church,  iii.  494. 

Savage  State,  man  not  created  in,  i.  68 ; 
traceable  to  the  want  of  instruction  as 
its  primal  cause,  69  ;  not  known  in  the 
time  of  Noah  and  his  sons,  iii.  106  ;  not 
the  primeval  condition  of  our  race,  83, 
113;  the  result  of  a  degeneration  from 
pre-existing  civilization  and  man’s  de¬ 
pravity,  83,  114. 

Savageism  of  man,  not  his  original  condi¬ 
tion,  iii.  85,  112  ;  long  a  favourite  dogma 
of  philosophy,  88  ;  traceable  to  the  con¬ 
fusion  of  tongues  at  Babel,  101, 113  ;  no 
trace  of,  in  the  world  before  the  time  of 
Nimrod,  109,  113;  the  consequence  of 
penal  judgments  at  Babel,  187. 

Savages ,  the  first  mention  of,  in  history, 
iii.  110,  114;  unassisted  by  aid  from 
abroad,  never  rise  to  civilization,  116 ; 
of  America  and  Africa  accounted  for, 
187. 

Saviour,  his  command  to  preach  the  gos¬ 
pel  begins  to  be  obeyed,  iii.  479. 

Say,  and  other  political  writers,  on  the 
poor,  i.  501. 

Scepticism,  no  proof  of  genius,  i.  282  ;  tri¬ 
umph  of,  after  the  Reformation  of  Lu¬ 
ther,  ii.  431 ;  danger  of  indulging  in,  iii. 


799 


INDEX. 


282 ;  intrepid  in  denying  the  proofs  of 
ancient  civilization,  149. 

Sceptics,  their  unfair  dealing  with  Chris¬ 
tianity,  i.  306. 

Scheme  of  man’s  redemption,  above  all 
human  power  and  wisdom,  ii.  637 ;  its 
truths  the  mysteries  of  God,  639. 

Schemes  of  popular  education,  different 
ones  suggested,  i.  644. 

Scholars  should  be  exempt  from  prejudice, 
iii.  194. 

Scholarship,  indiscriminate  reading  ruin¬ 
ous  to,  i.  110  ;  rewarded  with  high  ho¬ 
nours  in  the  Eastern  States,  426  ;  pro¬ 
found,  needed  in  the  study  of  Scripture, 
iii.  206. 

Scholastic  Sophists  of  the  Middle  Ages, 
their  character,  iii.  202. 

School  Funds,  large  accumulation  of,  a 
doubtful  policy,  i.  497-499,  iii.  563;  of 
Tennessee,  their  origin  and  mismanage¬ 
ment,  i.  497,  531  ;  their  inutility, 
647. 

School- Houses,  the  need  of,  in  Tennessee, 

i.  131. 

Schoolmasters,  the  duties  of,  i.  105;  how 
competent  ones  are  to  be  supplied,  235; 
their  work  in  Europe,  242,  243 ;  their 
status  in  society,  iii.  268;  allies  of 
farmers  and  mechanics,  270;  great 
number  necessary,  271 ;  divided  in  four 
classes,  272. 

Schoolmen  of  the  Middle  Ages,  their  tactics, 
iii.  203. 

Schools,  of  the  Greeks  and  Romans,  i.  91; 
common,  importance  of,  in  our  country, 
131;  higher  classification  of,  127;  pri¬ 
mary  and  classical,  needed  everywhere, 
133-135;  collegiate  and  popular,  what 
they  would  do  for  Tennessee,  136;  ad¬ 
vantages  of  all  classes  of,  236 ;  names 
of,  unimportant,  345;  kind  most  needed 
in  Tennessee,  346  ;  how  established  and 
maintained,  470;  different  systems  of, 
471 ;  many  no  better  than  nuisances, 
517 ;  by  what  denomination  firstfounded 
in  America,  iii.  434 ;  of  the  ancient  Egyp¬ 
tian  priesthood,  their  objects,  139  ;  of 
interpretation  as  to  the  Federal  Consti¬ 
tution,  331. 

Schwartz  quoted  on  education,  i.  478. 

Science,  culture  of,  among  the  ancients,  i. 
71;  in  Egypt  and  Chaldea,  monopolized 
by  priests,  72;  its  influence  with  the 
Bible  on  slavery,  73  ;  should  not  be  sec¬ 
tarian,  257;  not  discordant  with  revela¬ 
tion,  629  ;  its  prerogative  to  remove  er¬ 
ror  and  prejudice,  iii.  195;  progress  of, 
during  the  last  hundred  years,  238 ;  of 
astronomy,  traced  to  Noah  and  Adam, 
144;  how  lost  in  Egypt,  145;  connection 
between  all,  ii.  242;  human  and  divine, 
full  of  mysteries,  642. 

Scots,  the  sturdy  Presbyterian,  opposed  to 
kingcraft,  iii.  407. 


Scott,  Dr.  Thomas,  his  experience  on  re¬ 
ligious  prejudice,  iii.  215. 

Scottish  Commissioners,  their  influence  in 
the  Westminster  Assembly,  iii.  431. 

Scottish  General  Assemblies  continue  from 
year  to  year  by  commissions,  iii.  430. 

Scottish  Universities,  like  the  German, 
have  no  costly  buildings,  i.  416. 

Scriptural  Miracles  gain  by  comparison 
with  all  others,  ii.  669. 

Scriptures,  Sacred,  the  study  of,  essential 
to  education,  i.  50;  theories  of  their  in¬ 
spiration,  ii.  666;  nowhere  contradict 
human  reason,  677;  their  evidence 
against  a  primeval  savage  state,  iii.  97, 
113 ;  their  spirit  opposed  to  uncharita¬ 
ble  controversy,  210;  passages  of,  on 
the  condition  of  the  negro  race,  574- 
576;  passages  of,  relating  to  riches  and 
poverty, 590-592;  theirtestimony  strong, 
against  strong  drink,  538. 

Seal,  the  broad,  of  the  State  of  New  Jer¬ 
sey,  iii.  310. 

Season,  an  article  on  the,  iii.  613. 

Secret,  the  chief,  of  all  sound  banking  sys¬ 
tems,  iii.  363. 

Secret  Crimes  beyond  the  reach  of  human 
laws,  iii.  479. 

Secretaries  of  departments,  their  position 
in  the  National  Cabinet,  iii.  327;  in 
what  sense  advisers  of  the  President, 
327. 

Sectarian  Colleges,  injurious  effects  of,  i. 
254,  255;  increase  of,  in  our  country, 
265  ;  highly  objectionable,  315,  316. 

Sectarian  Doctrines  not  to  be  taught  in 
institutions  of  learning,  i.  316,  378. 

Sectarian  Domination,  no  danger  of,  in 
our  land,  ii.  58. 

Sectarian  Spirit ,  inimical  to  Christianity, 
i.  322 ;  denounced  and  abjured,  325,  iii. 
455. 

Sects,  all  on  a  perfect  equality  in  our 
country,  i.  318;  early  developed  in  the 
church,  ii.  232,  233 ;  their  influence 
among  the  Jews,  iii.  200  ;  illiberal  con¬ 
tests  in  the  Christian,  of  our  day,  204 ; 
all  professedly  stand  on  Scripture,  222 ; 
shunned  by  Dr.  Lindslejq  315;  should 
be  restrained  from  domestic  persecu¬ 
tion,  425,  426;  their  adoption  of  the 
temperance  cause,  539. 

Sedition  Laws,  iii.  343;  a  nullity  under 
Jefferson,  350. 

Sees  of  ancient  bishops,  how  derived,  iii. 
417,  418. 

Selden,  John,  head  of  the  Erastian  party 
in  the  Westminster  Assembly,  iii.  432. 

Self-  Culture  essential  to  improvement,  iii. 
ii5. 

Self-Deception  of  man,  as  to  his  sin  and 
danger,  common,  ii.  476. 

Self-Denial,  under  the  gospel,  promotes 
man’s  happiness,  ii.  186. 

Self-Examination,  as  to  the  right  use  of 


INDEX. 


723 


time,  salutary,  ii.  210;  a  sermon  on  the 
duty  of,  535;  incumbent  on  all  who 
come  to  the  Lord’s  Table,  539. 

Self-Government ,  the  duty  taught,  i.  370  ; 
political,  exercised  by  the  first  settlers 
of  America,  iii.  232  ;  fixed  habit  of  our 
ante-Revolutionary  fathers,  243;  grand 
problem  of,  to  be  solved  in  our  country, 
i.  199. 

Self-Interest,  the  blinding  influence  of,  on 
moral  questions,  iii.  535-538. 

Self-Knowledge,  difficult  in  nations  as  in 
individuals,  i.  464 ;  the  great  importance 
of,  464. 

Self- Made  Men,  indebted  to  the  university, 

i.  27,  436 ;  do  not  rely  on  genius  alone, 
202  ;  who  they  are,  342;  long  list  of, 
436  ;  other  examples,  619. 

Self-Taxation  an  essential  condition  of 
constitutional  liberty,  iii.  247. 

Selfishness  of  ambitious  men  in  the  minis¬ 
try,  fearful  picture  of,  ii.  70,  71. 

Seminaries,  at  home,  the  benefits  of,  i.  78; 
effect  of  increasing,  81 ;  of  learning,  in 
the  West,  establishment  of,  i.  212  ;  insti¬ 
tuted  in  the  Middle  Ages,  iii.  202. 

Seminary,  the  Theological,  at  New  Albany, 
iii.  399. 

Senate  of  the  United  States,  functions  of,  iii. 
305 ;  popular  idea  of,  a  perversion,  307. 

Senators,  should  be  independent,  national 
legislators,  iii.  305,  306;  how  chosen, 
318,  319 ;  when  bound  to  obey  instruc¬ 
tions,  308. 

Sense  of  guilt  in  man,  cannot  be  shaken 
off,  ii.  518. 

Senses,  physical,  their  use  in  gaining 
knowledge,  ii.  664. 

Separation  of  religion  from  the  state,  an 
idea  long  unknown,  iii.  420,  421;  first 
effected  in  America,  422. 

Sermons,  Dr.  Lindsley’s,  on  the  Duty  of 
Observing  the  Sabbath,  ii.  87  ;  on  Early 
Piety,  121;  on  True  Wisdom,  157;  on 
Improvement  of  Time,  205;  on  Pleasing 
God,  249;  on  the  Pastoral  Office,  303; 
on  the  Necessity  of  Regeneration,  381; 
on  the  Necessity  of  Revelation,  415; 
on  Divine  Government,  439 ;  on  the 
Conduct  of  the  Unbelieving,  469;  on 
Human  Depravity,  497  ;  on  Self-Exami¬ 
nation,  53 5;  on  Spiritual-mindedness, 
565 ;  on  Evangelical  Repentance,  593 ;  on 
the  Mysteries  of  God,  631 :  on  the  Bible 
adapted  to  Man,  663  ;  on  the  Great  Sal¬ 
vation,  701. 

Servants  entitled  to  the  Sabbath  for  rest, 

ii.  90,  91. 

Servetus,  connection  of  Calvin  with  his 
condemnation,  ii.  350,  351. 

Service,  outward  splendor  of  the  Jewish 
religious,  iii.  401. 

Servile  Classes,  condition  of,  in  ancient 
and  modern  nations,  iii.  133. 

Sewall,  Dr.  Thomas,  quoted,  iii.  519. 


I  SnAKSPEARE,  quotations  from,  iii.  280, 
396,  554;  his  example,  with  others, 
cited,  231. 

Sherman,  Roger,  how  he  rose  to  emi¬ 
nence,  i.  303,  iii.  282. 

Shibboleths  of  modern  church  parties,  iii. 
497. 

Simon  Magus,  type  of  existing  character 
in  the  church,  ii.  71 ;  his  case  referred 
to,  ii.  542. 

Sin,  the  source  of  all  unhappiness,  ii.  383  ; 
its  seductive  influences,  475;  its  origin, 
nature,  and  extent,  500-503;  united 
with  misery,  511:  its  existence  a  mys¬ 
tery  unsolved,  671;  original,  of  our  first 
parents,  686 ;  in  every  case  must  be 
punished,  689;  views  of,  as  an  infinite 
evil,  690  ;  its  penalty  eternal,  691;  its 
guilt  and  enormity  unsearchable,  691 ; 
aggravated  by  neglect  of  privileges, 
703;  forgiven  only  through  the  blood 
of  Christ,  704,  705. 

Sincerity  necessary  to  religion,  ii.  587. 

Single  Prejudice,  invincibility  of  a,  iii. 
208. 

Sinners,  inexcusable  for  rejecting  the  gos¬ 
pel,  ii.  407  ;  why  they  reject  Christ,  487  ; 
representation  of  their  case,  519;  help¬ 
less  condition  of,  by  nature,  687  ;  com¬ 
ing  doom  of  the  impenitent,  708,  709  ; 
their  reasons  for  delay  absurd,  717 ;  en¬ 
treated  to  turn  to  God,  719. 

Sir  Thomas  More,  an  example  of  mar¬ 
tyrdom,  i.  457- 

Slave-Trade,  iniquity  and  cruelty  of,  ii. 
311 ;  once  followed  bjr  Christian  nations 
without  compunction,  iii.  523. 

Slaveholding ,  no  one  compelled  to  adopt 
it,  iii.  580. 

Slavery,  in  ancient  Egypt,  no  disproof  of 
civilization,  iii.  132  ;  negro,  in  America, 
the  source  of  many  evils,  394,  664  ;  two 
extreme  views  of,  held,  557;  subject  to 
the  people  of  each  State  and  Territory, 
571;  the  sin  of  Christendom,  669  :  five 
modes  suggested  for  its  extinguishment, 
572  ;  not  national,  571;  questions  touch¬ 
ing  its  origin  and  end,  579  ;  in  the  Eng¬ 
lish  colonies,  669;  final  destruction  of, 
in  America,  672. 

Slaves,  of  necessity,  ignorant,  i.  485; 
should  have  the  Bible,  iii.  665;  cannot 
be  kept  in  perpetual  bondage,  iii.  665, 
669. 

Sleighing  at  Nashville  described,  iii.  614. 

Smith,  Adam,  founder  of  the  system  of 
political  economy,  i.  286;  his  doctrines 
controverted,  iii.  381,  389. 

Smith,  Dr.  Samuel  Stanhope,  iii.  14; 
his  successful  presidency  of  the  College 
of  New  Jersey,  656;  his  public  works, 
667  ;  hospitality  and  liberal  sentiments, 
658  ;  great  talents  for  government,  654; 
reminiscences  of,  652 ;  eloquence  and 
learning  of,  653 ;  his  ability  as  a  teacher, 


724 


INDEX. 


654;  method  of  instruction,  655;  his 
person  and  character,  660 ;  his  last  days, 
661. 

Social  Degradation  caused  by  popular  ig¬ 
norance,  i.  150. 

Social  Intercourse,  in  Tennessee,  character 
of,  i.  430,  431 ;  rule  for  Christian  de¬ 
nominations  in,  ii.  266,  267. 

Social  System,  of  education,  i.  516. 

Societies,  Bible,  tract,  and  missionary, 
poorly  supported,  ii.  313;  colonization, 
inadequate  to  remove  the  African  race, 
iii.  670;  American  temperance,  advo¬ 
cated,  iii.  505;  their  origin,  510;  their 
rapid  progress,  511;  British  and  Foreign 
Bible,  when  founded,  463  ;  catholic  cha¬ 
racter  of,  463  ;  progress  and  successes, 
464;  first  American  Bible,  when  founded, 
465;  projectors  of,  knew  not  its  pros¬ 
pective  greatness,  474. 

Society,  money-making  people  its  best 
members,  i.  229  ;  importance  of  the  in¬ 
dustrious  classes  to,  ii.  34;  condition  of, 
without  a  Sabbath,  108 ;  without  the 
Bible,  iii.  486. 

Socinian  Leaders  dangerous  on  account 
of  their  learning,  ii.  79. 

Socrates  and  other  types  of  the  best  pa¬ 
gan  virtue,  ii.  135. 

Sodom,  the  destruction  of,  ii.  470,  710. 

Solar  System,  theory  of,  known  in  Egypt 
before  Pythagoras,  iii.  143 ;  how  lost, 
145. 

Soldiers  need  not  the  stimulus  of  strong 
drink,  iii.  527. 

Solomon,  King,  an  advocate  of  learning, 

i.  628,  iii.  326. 

Solon,  his  judgment  as  to  true  happi¬ 
ness,  ii.  223 ;  and  other  Grecian  sages, 
their  lack  of  moral  light,  420;  why  they 
visited  Egypt,  iii.  148. 

Sons  of  farmers  and  mechanics,  why  they 
should  be  educated,  iii.  271. 

Sophistry  of  those  who  reject  the  gospel, 

ii.  718. 

Sorroiv  for  sin  an  element  of  true  repent¬ 
ance,  ii.  604. 

Sots  manufactured  by  distilleries  and 
dram-shops,  iii.  537. 

Soul  of  man,  its  true  value,  ii.  289 ;  not 
satisfied  with  earthly  things,  214;  its 
immortality  not  disproved  by  material¬ 
ism,  696 ;  rests  exclusively  on  God’s 
testimony,  697. 

Sources  of  all  human  knowledge  indicated, 

ii.  675. 

South  should  assert  and  secure  her  rights 
in  the  Union,  iii.  571. 

South- Sea  Bubble  referred  to,  iii.  362. 

Southard,  Hon.  Samuel  L.,  referred  to, 

iii.  13. 

Southern  Chivalry,  its  disunion  sentiment, 
iii.  562. 

Southern  States,  their  sentiments  and 
habits  on  education,  i.  645. 


Southern  Students  at  Eastern  colleges,  i. 
260. 

Southern  Volunteers,  why  preferred  in  the 
Mexican  War,  iii.  567,  569. 

Sovereign  of  Great  Britain  not  supreme 
over  the  ministry,  iii.  328. 

Sovereign  Power  of  the  President  of  the 
United  States,  iii.  323. 

Sovereignty,  State,  limited  by  the  national, 
iii.  313. 

Speech,  public,  about  colleges,  by  Hr. 
Lindsley,  i.  555. 

Speech,  human,  attainment  of,  slow  and 
difficult,  iii.  94;  at  first  received  by  in¬ 
spiration  of  God,  95. 

Specimens  of  objections  alleged  against 
the  Bible,  iii.  683,  6S4. 

Speedy  Degeneration  of  the  race  after  the 
dispersion  at  Babel,  iii.  109,  113. 

Spirit  of  God,  necessary  to  change  the 
heart,  ii.  586-588 ;  with  his  providence, 
calls  for  repentance,  719. 

Spirit ,  of  truth,  required  by  the  Bible,  ii. 
681;  of  the  gospel,  consists  in  giving 
freely  to  others,  iii.  539. 

Spirits,  ardent,  to  be  used  only  as  a  medi¬ 
cine,  iii.  516. 

Spiritual  Body  not  explained  in  the  Scrip¬ 
tures,  ii.  670. 

Spiritual  Destitution  in  parts  of  Virginia, 
iii.  425. 

Spiritual-mindedness,  a  sermon  on,  ii.  565, 
569;  character  of,  described,  571,  579; 
evidences  of,  570,  578;  blessed  rewards 
of,  581,  583. 

Spiritual  Rulers,  their  mastery  over  man’s 
conscience,  iii.  425. 

Spitting  Animal,  designation  of  Ameri¬ 
cans,  iii.  623. 

Splendid  Project  of  the  British  colonial 
policy  in  America,  iii.  233. 

Sprague,  Dr.  William  B.,  his  testimo¬ 
nial  of  Dr.  Lindsley,  i.  17 ;  his  Annals 
of  the  American  Pulpit,  12,  iii.  16,  261. 

Spurious  Christianity ,  what  it  has  done,  i. 
309. 

Standing  Army,  none  needed  in  our  coun¬ 
try,  iii.  242. 

State,  its  true  policy  touching  education, 
i.  146 ;  its  power  over  the  church  of 
England,  iii.  420  ;  its  encroachments  on 
the  church  under  Constantine,  iii.  421; 
of  civilization,  how  attained  by  men 
and  nations,  83,  114. 

State  Banks,  existed  at  the  formation  of 
our  Constitution,  iii.  375;  objections  to 
stock,  338,  584. 

State  Bounty,  act  of,  in  Tennessee,  should 
be  repealed,  iii.  392 ;  burdensome,  388, 
390. 

State  Crimes,  innocent  victims  of,  i.  457. 

State  Currency,  unconstitutionality  of 
paper,  iii.  365. 

State  Legislatures,  their  educational  la¬ 
bours,  i.  244;  their  penitentiary  sys- 


INDEX. 


725 


terns,  245  ;  cannot  nullify  a  law  of  Con¬ 
gress,  iii.  310. 

State  Offences  almost  unknown  in  our 
country,  iii.  254. 

State  Eights,  limits  and  restrictions  of,  iii. 
308  ;  who  clamour  most  for,  309  ;  only 
remedy  for  a  breach  of,  310  ;  what,  re¬ 
linquished  to  the  General  Government, 
385. 

States,  American,  not  sovereign  and  inde¬ 
pendent,  iii.  313,  314;  have  no  constitu¬ 
tional  right  to  charter  banks,  374. 

Statesmen,  accomplished,  how  made,  i. 
303  ,•  why  so  few  great  ones  in  America, 
iii.  313. 

Statistics  of  intemperance,  disclosures  of, 
iii.  500-520. 

Stevens,  his  work  on  Central  America, 
iii.  166. 

Stevenson,  James,  iii.  12. 

Stewards,  of  divine  mysteries,  gospel  mi¬ 
nisters,  ii.  631;  how  they  can  be  faith¬ 
ful,  643 ;  signification  of  the  term, 
643 :  the  duties  and  responsibilities  of, 
651.' 

Stewart,  Rev.  Daniel,  D.D.,  letter  of, 
iii.  54. 

Stockholders  in  banks  innocent  sufferers, 
iii.  361. 

Story,  of  a  German  Transcendentalist,  i. 
14;  of  the  American  Revolution,  its 
thrilling  interest,  iii.  234. 

St.  Petersbxcrg,  example  of  speedy  growth 
of  cities,  iii.  131. 

Strabo,  his  testimony  to  the  learning  of 
the  Egyptians,  iii.  139. 

Stream  of  civilization  traced  back  to  the 
Garden  of  Eden,  i.  69,  ii.  84,  iii.  84. 

Strikes  of  mechanics  for  wages  unwise 
and  injurious,  iii.  597. 

Strong  Drink,  fatal  influence  of,  iii.  508. 

Structures,  massive,  at  Babel,  disprove  a 
savage  state,  iii.  108. 

Stuart  Dynasty ,  great  principles  involved 
in  its  conflicts,  iii.  564. 

Students,  their  future  course  of  conduct,  i. 
540 ;  privileges  and  responsibilities  of, 
ii.  291 ;  should  not  desire  an  old  age  of 
indolence,  180  ;  of  Nassau  Hall,  address 
to,  150. 

Study,  of  politics  the  duty  of  American 
citizens,  i.  287 ;  of  the  Bible,  what  it  re¬ 
quires,  446 ;  of  nature,  its  value  and 
aims,  627-629  ;  of  arts  and  sciences,  in 
the  ark  of  Noah,  iii.  104;  results  of  an¬ 
tiquarian,  in  Egypt,  147 ;  the  true  me¬ 
thod  of,  gives  pleasure,  i.  370. 

Stump  Speeches  easily  turned  into  purita¬ 
nical  sermons,  iii.  555. 

Subjects  proper  for  legislature,  iii.  35'7. 

Submission  necessary  for  the  Christian,  ii. 
260. 

Substitution,  vicarious,  its  necessity  and 
wisdom,  ii.  689. 

Success  no  proof  of  divine  favour,  i.  175. 


Succession ,  apostolic,  in  the  prelatic  sense, 
iii.  410. 

Successors,  of  the  apostles,  men  of  great 
learning,  ii.  45,  46 ;  the  true  and  legiti¬ 
mate,  iii.  409,  444;  of  St.  Peter,  their 
work  in  the  Middle  Ages,  203. 

Sufferings  of  man  a  proof  of  his  sinfulness, 

ii.  504. 

Sumner,  Archbishop,  his  liberal  senti¬ 
ments,  iii.  412. 

Sun  and  Moon  first  gods  of  the  Egyptians, 

iii.  142. 

Sunday-Schools,  their  benefits  to  the  poor, 
ii.  98,  99. 

Supremacy,  papal,  when  abolished  in  Eng¬ 
land,  iii.  415. 

Supreme  Court,  of  the  United  States,  inter¬ 
preter  of  the  Federal  Constitution,  iii. 
317;  final  and  binding,  319;  proposed, 
instead  of  the  General  Assembly,  for 
the  church,  442,  443. 

Swindling  by  bank  speculators,  iii.  367. 

Sword  of  the  Spirit,  the  word  of  God,  ii. 
649. 

Syllogism,  a,  formula  of,  given,  ii.  678. 

Sympathy  for  the  drunkard,  iii.  514. 

Synods  and  Presbyteries,  corresponding 
members  of,  iii.  454. 

System ,  of  salvation  and  virtue,  in  the  Bi¬ 
ble,  certain  and  definite,  iii.  198;  of 
schools  and  academies,  effects  of,  i.  136; 
of  education  at  Hofwyl  admirable,  95; 
the  spirit  of,  unfavourable  to  free  in¬ 
quiry,  iii.  191;  of  opinions  not  demanded 
in  Scripture  as  an  object  of  faith,  450 ; 
of  Presbjderian  church  polity  not  held 
to  be  perfect,  but  the  best,  439 ;  in  har¬ 
mony  with  our  civil  government,  449, 
450  ;  fundamental  principles  of,  444. 

Systems,  various,  of  education,  i.  65,  471, 
476  ;  of  natural  religion,  an  unsafe  reli¬ 
ance  for  eternity,  ii.  708,  709;  of  Epi¬ 
curus  and  Lueretius  degrading  as  to 
man’s  origin,  iii.  93 ;  utterly  indefensi¬ 
ble,  9'6 ;  of  philosophy,  their  influence 
on  ancient  Christianity,  201 ;  diverse, 
among  Protestants,  from  soeial  and  po¬ 
litical  creeds,  439. 

T 

Tabernacle,  service  in  the  Jewish,  de¬ 
scribed,  iii.  401. 

Tabula  Rasa,  not  possible  to  the  mind  of 
man,  iii.  195. 

Tadmor,  city  of  the  desert,  how  accounted 
for,  iii.  166. 

Talents  unavailing  without  industry,  ii. 
177. 

Tanaquil,  and  others,  referred  to,  i.  99. 

Tariff,  advocates  and  opponents  of,  i.  338 ; 
•controversy  on,  between  the  North  and 
the  South,  338;  defined,  iii.  376;  the 
best  mode  of  taxation,  376;  for  revenue 
and  protection,  377;  regarded  by  many 


726 


INDEX. 


as  robbery,  378  ;  protective,  should  be 
high,  379;  not  unconstitutional,  385; 
when  sectional,  unjust,  388. 

Tavern-Keepers  fall  victims  to  intempe¬ 
rance,  iii.  537. 

Taxation,  of  land,  unwise  and  injurious, 

i.  489-492;  for  educational  purposes 
reasonable,  475;  the  basis  of  the  public 
schools  in  Massachusetts,  473;  of  con¬ 
sumption  the  true  principle,  494;  an 
evil,  494 ;  without  representation,  caused 
the  American  Revolution,  iii.  240;  a 
violation  of  the  British  Constitution, 
246;  proper  objects  of,  356;  by  a  tariff 
on  consumption  equitable,  376;  when 
the  system  is  injurious,  391;  the  best 
system  of,  566. 

Taxes,  paid  by  the  rich,  not  the  poor,  i. 
148;  internal  and  direct,  repealed  by 
Jefferson,  iii.  376. 

Teacher,  vocation  of,  important,  'i.  102 ; 
standing  of,  in  the  South  and  West, 
425;  sacred  responsibilities  of  his  office, 

ii.  7 ;  how  made  an  honourable  profes¬ 
sion,  i.  80 ;  a  glorious  work,  35. 

Teachers,  great  mass  of,  adventurers,  i. 
103  ;  prejudice  against,  116;  should  be 
well  paid,  132  ;  essential  qualifications 
of,  523-525 ;  ought  not  to  be  controlled 
by  parents,  390  ;  great  need  of  compe¬ 
tent,  449 ;  ought  to  be  true  Christians, 
507 ;  deficiences  of,  524 ;  four  classes  of, 

iii.  272. 

Teachers  of  heresies,  in  our  times,  learned 
and  subtle,  ii.  78,  79. 

Tedyuscung,  the  Indian  chief,  anecdote 
of,  ii.  384. 

Tellus,  and  others,  referred  to,  ii.  222. 

Temperance,  recommended  to  college  gra¬ 
duates,  i.  270  ;  in  eating  and  drinking, 
necessary  to  long  life,  ii.  169 ;  advan¬ 
tages  of,  170,  171;  its  great  national 
army,  iii.  515. 

Temperance  Cause,  vindicated,  iii.  505 ;  ob¬ 
jections  to,  answered,  511,  616;  its  great 
battle  yet  to  be  fought,  513 ;  indebted 
to  the  medical  profession,  517;  its  phi¬ 
lanthropic  character,  535  ;  its  origin  and 
progress,  539 ;  its  catholic  spirit,  540 ; 
its  achievements,  through  voluntary  so¬ 
cieties,  i.  271. 

Temperate  Drinking,  the  chief  support  of 
drunkenness,  iii.  509,  517,  520,  533 ; 
sustained  by  the  example  of  Christian 
ministers,  533. 

Temporal  Penalties  insufficient  to  restrain 
men,  iii.  486. 

Temptations,  incurred  in  party  politics,  i. 
290  ;  in  schools  and  colleges,  ii.  165- 
170;  to  drunkenness,  iii.  508,  520. 

Tendency  to  savage  life  in  the  midst  of 
civilization,  iii.  114. 

Tennessee,  consumption  of  liquors  in,  i. 
182;  earnest  appeal  for  a  great  univer¬ 
sity  in,  i.  159,  161;  useless  legislation 


about  schools  in,  532 ;  injurious  State 
action  on  education,  647 ;  defects  in  the 
Constitution  of,  iii.  296 ;  number  and 
expense  of  banks  in,  374;  needs  a  mar¬ 
ket  for  home  products,  387 ;  greatness 
of,  with  manufactures,  387;  efforts  of, 
at  self-culture,  390;  bounty  act  of,  391; 
land-tax  of,  bad,  392  ;  State  Temperance 
Society  of,  iii.  505;  its  pledge,  541;  pic¬ 
ture  of  climate  and  people  of,  ludicrous, 
629. 

Ten  Tribes  of  Israel,  how  they  lost  consti¬ 
tutional  liberty,  iii.  343. 

Term,  the  Presidential,  of  office,  iii.  345. 

Terrors  of  death  and  judgment  sported 
with  by  the  wicked,  ii.  464. 

Testimony ,  value  of,  as  a  source  of  know¬ 
ledge,  ii.  676;  must  be  relied  on,  675- 
677  ;  of  Scripture,  on  man’s  primitive 
state,  iii.  112. 

Tests,  political  and  religious,  iii.  310. 

Thales  and  Eudoxus,  where  they  studied 
science,  iii.  148. 

Thebes,  most  ancient  city  on  earth,  ac¬ 
cording  to  the  Egyptians,  iii.  181 ; 
maximum  population  and  architectural 
grandeur  of,  181. 

Themes  for  reflection,  article  on,  iii.  553. 

Theological  Creeds  not  taught  in  college, 

i.  367. 

Theological  Education,  in  Europe,  always 
in  colleges,  ii.  52. 

Theological  Prejudices,  how  formed,  iii. 
205. 

Theological  Seminary,  the  best  place  for 
developing  character,  ii.  51 ;  established 
at  Princeton,  its  claims,  39  ;  on  what 
principles  founded,  39 ;  its  great  object, 
40 ;  strong  opposition  to,  at  first,  53 ; 
vindicated  against  objectors,  57 ;  its 
limited  means  for  the  first  seven  years, 
69;  referred  to,  iii.  16;  at  New  Albany, 
52. 

Theological  Seminaries,  superior  advan¬ 
tages  of,  ii.  50 ;  needed  to  supply  a 
competent  ministry,  66 ;  by  whom  first 
founded,  iii.  434;  of  Princeton  and  An¬ 
dover,  i.  87  ;  foundations  of,  in  the  West, 

ii.  27. 

Theological  Systems,  their  influence  on 
the  ministry,  iii.  199;  their  proper  place 
and  use,  220 ;  dangerous  tendency  of, 
221. 

Theology,  a  branch  of  study  in  European 
universities,  ii.  52 ;  the  only  science 
where  God  is  our  teacher,  654;  its  dog¬ 
matic  study  in  the  Middle  Ages,  iii. 
201. 

Theories,  of  Scripture  interpretation  stated, 

ii.  666  ;  respecting  the  ancients,  absurd, 

iii.  184;  on  the  American  Indians,  drawn 
from  imperfect  data,  185. 

Theory,  of  a  primeval  savage  state,  un¬ 
tenable,  i.  68  ;  of  the  law,  its  abuses  and 
perversion,  i.  299;  defective  one,  as  to 


INDEX. 


t"he  success  of  the  American  Revolution, 
iii.  241  ;  of  free  trade,  orthodox  and 
beautiful,  382 ;  practice  of  all  nations 
against  it,  382. 

Thoughts  on  Slavery  in  America,  iii.  663. 

Three  Parties  on  the  American  common- 
school  system,  i.  648. 

Thurlow,  Lord,  remark  of,  i.  271. 

Tillotson,  and  other  Episcopal  dignita¬ 
ries,  liberality  of,  iii.  411. 

Timseus  and  Critias,  of  Plato,  thought  to 
refer  to  America,  iii.  156. 

Time ,  often  wasted  in  schools  and  colleges, 

i.  520 ;  amount  of,  usefully  employed, 

ii.  160  ;  improvement  of,  a  sermon,  205  ; 
rapid  flight  of,  207  ;  waste  of,  210  ;  true 
estimate  of,  212;  an  estate,  our  all,  214; 
how  abused  by  the  multitude,  215; 
more  precious  than  wealth,  221;  a  ta¬ 
lent  specially  committed  to  the  young, 
238  ;  present,  nothing  in  the  light  of 
eternity,  697 ;  given  to  prepare  for  hea¬ 
ven,  707  ;  its  priceless  value  illustrated, 

iii.  643 ;  with  culture,  essential  to  all 
great  attainments,  82  ;  of  regeneration, 
not  always  known  to  Christians,  ii.  395, 
396. 

Timothy  and  Titus,  evangelists,  iii.  409. 

Titles,  of  honour,  greatly  prized  in  our 
country,  i.  214;  of  nobility,  contrary  to 
the  Constitution,  iii.  340  ;  of  bishops  in 
the  United  States,  their  import,  417. 

Tobacco,  use  of,  condemned,  iii.  623  ; 
Western  parsons  addicted  to,  624. 

Toleration,  a  term  unknown  to  our  laws, 

i.  318,  iii.  423. 

Toplady,  his  opinion  and  practice  on  re¬ 
ligious  controversy,  iii.  211. 

Total  Abstinence,  commended  by  many 
physicians,  iii.  516;  the  main  power  of 
the  temperance  cause,  529  ;  only  remedy 
for  drunkenness,  534. 

Total  Depravity,  the  doctrine  clearly 
taught  in  Scripture,  ii.  498,  685;  virtu¬ 
ally  admitted  by  all,  687. 

Tradesmen  need  associations  for  literature 
and  culture,  i.  123. 

Traffic  in  ardent  spirits,  unlawful,  iii. 
535;  wicked  and  ruinous  to  all  con¬ 
cerned,  536. 

Training,  of  children,  an  absolute  and 
universal  law,  iii.  484;  never  fails  when 
complied  with,  484;  of  the  faculties,  the 
great  end  of  college  studies,  i.  110. 

Traitors  to  democracy,  iii.  310. 

Transubstantiation,  Romish  doctrine  of, 
contrary  to  reason,  ii.  668  ;  its  absurdity 
illustrated,  669. 

Transylvania  University  referred  to,  i.  87. 

Treasury,  its  Secretary  dependent  on  the 
President,  iii.  323. 

Trial  by  jury  bad  in  theory,  good  in  prac¬ 
tice,  iii.  557. 

Tribes,  aboriginal  American,  a  distinct 
variety  of  the  human  race,  iii.  165  ; 


under  the  same  destiny  and  curse, 
166. 

Tribunals,  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
their  functions,  iii.  440;  separate  judi¬ 
cial,  suggested,  442. 

Tribute,  honourable,  to  the  medical  profes¬ 
sion,  iii.  517. 

Trickery  and  Mystification  not  found  in 
the  Bible,  ii.  667. 

Tricks  of  genteel  beggars  disguised  as 
foreigners,  iii.  607. 

Trinitarians,  their  views  of  Unitarianism, 

ii.  77,  78. 

Trinity  of  the  Godhead,  its  place  in  re¬ 
vealed  religion,  ii.  638  ;  nature  of  the 
doctrine,  640;  a  mysterious  fact,  674; 
to  be  received  on  divine  testimony, 
675. 

Triumph  of  the  temperance  reformation, 

iii.  513. 

Troost,  Dr.  Gerard,  Professor  in  the 
Nashville  University,  i.  34,  iii.  52;  his 
mineralogical  cabinet,  i.  268;  address  of 
Dr.  Lindsley,  on  his  life  and  character, 
593;  born  and  educated  in  Holland, 
597  ;  his  doctorate,  599  ;  pupil  of  Ilauy, 
599  ;  honourable  appointments  in  Eu¬ 
rope,  600  ;  becomes  an  American  citi¬ 
zen,  600;  his  residence  in  Philadelphia, 
601;  State  geologist  of  Tennessee,  602; 
success  as  professor  of  natural  science, 
604;  character  as  a  philosopher,  605  ; 
his  scientific  pursuits,  606  ;  his  writings, 
607 ;  his  reputation  abroad,  608;  abhor¬ 
rence  of  sciolism  and  quackery,  609 ; 
cabinet  and  library  of,  613 ;  his  private 
life  and  virtues,  615  ;  gentlemanly  bear¬ 
ing,  616;  his  punctilious  honesty,  617; 
estimate  of  his  philosophical  genius, 
617;  a  self-made  man,  618;  a  good 
man,  620  ;  anecdote  of  him  as  a  peace¬ 
maker,  621 ;  his  religion,  621 ;  his  con¬ 
tented  spirit,  622-625 ;  his  surviving 
children,  626 ;  his  classical  scholarship, 
632  ;  testimonials  of  his  character  and 
learning,  635-638. 

True  Faith,  how  manifested,  ii.  681. 

True  Religion,  its  blessings  forfeited  un¬ 
less  diffused,  iii.  480. 

True  Riches  preferable  to  wealth,  i.  459. 

True  Virtue  derived  only  from  God,  ii. 
132. 

True  Wisdom  for  time  and  eternity,  a  ser¬ 
mon  on,  ii.  157. 

Truth,  progress  of  moral,  i.  180 ;  every 
kind  of,  courts  investigation,  282 ;  rela¬ 
tive  value  of  different  kinds  of,  286; 
mental  condition  for  acquiring,  iii.  196; 
religious,  must  be  preached  in  its  just 
proportions,  ii.  22. 

Truths,  of  the  gospel,  fatal  effects  of  sup- 
pressing,  ii.  650  ;  of  natural  science, 
useless  to  us  after  death,  654. 

Tuckahoe,  vindication  of  Western  learn¬ 
ing,  iii.  638. 


728 


INDEX. 


Tucker,  his  biography  of  Jefferson  re¬ 
ferred  to,  iii.  334,  350,  376. 

Turgot,  origin  of  his  inscription  on  Frank¬ 
lin,  iii.  36. 

Two-Thirds ,  vote  of,  when  a  proper  rule, 
iii.  344,  345. 

Tyler,  John,  President,  his  hank- vetoes, 
iii.  369. 

Tyranny,  of  fashion,  its  bondage,  i.  186; 
to  be  resisted  by  the  young,  201 ;  politi¬ 
cal,  under  a  democracy,  iii.  312 ;  incon¬ 
sistent  with  the  gospel,  489;  British, 
never  in  fact  extended  over  this  coun¬ 
try,  244. 

U 

Ulster,  temperance  society  of,  illustration 
of  a  catholic  spirit,  iii.  540. 

Ultimate  Facts  believed  without  under¬ 
standing  their  nature,  ii.  676. 

Ultraism,  American,  of  every  kind,  i.  468; 
of  the  pro-slavery  party,  iii.  557. 

Unbelief,  a  grievous  sin,  ii.  620 ;  grounds 
of,  with  ungodly  men,  futile,  426. 

Uncharitable  Controversies  condemned  by 
Scripture,  iii.  209. 

Undergraduates,  studies  of,  i.  103  ;  of  Eng¬ 
lish  and  American  universities,  400. 

Understanding  essential  to  belief,  ii.  673, 
679. 

Unfaithful  Ministers  no  argument  against 
the  good,  ii.  65. 

Unfulfilled  Prophecies  to  be  left  to  future 
generations,  ii.  669. 

Ungodly  Youth,  their  downward  career  in 
life,  i.  542-544. 

Unhallowed  Ambition,  the  young  coun¬ 
selled  against,  i.  178. 

Uninspired  Writers  misrepresent  man’s 
nature,  ii.  245. 

Union,  of  the  American  States,  must  be 
maintained,  i.  352 ;  the  watchword  of 
patriotism,  354;  its  expansion  unlimited, 
583  ;  may  be  dissolved,  iii.  255  ;  equality 
of  privileges  in,  386  ;  should  be  indisso¬ 
luble  and  perpetual,  385;  of  church  and 
state  contrary  to  the  gospel,  ii.  319 ;  ex¬ 
istence  of,  in  the  fourth  century,  iii. 
520,  553;  true  Christian,  exemplified 
in  the  Bible  Society,  501;  the  strength 
of  the  temperance  reform,  510,  512  ;  of 
church  and  state,  fatal  to  civil  and  reli¬ 
gious  liberty,  416 ;  history  of,  worthy 
to  be  studied,  420;  how  effected  under 
Constantine,  421,  453 ;  first  severed  in 
the  American  colonies  by  their  national 
independence,  422. 

Unitarianism  a  dangerous  subversion  of 
the  gospel,  ii.  77,  78. 

Unitarians,  cannot  be  fellow-Christians 
with  Trinitarians,  ii.  77 ;  attack  the  ar¬ 
gument  for  an  infinite  atonement,  691. 

United  Brethren,  their  missionary  labours, 
ii.  433,  434. 


United  States  of  America,  our  right  to  the 
name,  i.  578,  579  ;  preference  over  other 
creditors,  iii.  320 ;  only  country  where 
religion  is  free  from  state  interference, 
422;  bank  of,  its  constitutionality,  335, 
337  ;  character  of  its  paper,  371 ;  num¬ 
ber  of  banks  in,  374 ;  could  produce 
enough  to  feed  the  British  Empire,  381 ; 
too  dependent  on  England  for  manu¬ 
factures,  385  ;  essential  unity  of,  385 ; 
internal  and  domestic  commerce  of,  387 ; 
need  a  market  for  the  products  of  home 
industry,  381-387  ;  first  and  second 
bank  of,  547. 

Unity,  one  of  the  three  gi'eat  principles  of 
Presbyterian  polity,  iii.  404;  of  the  hu¬ 
man  race,  Scripture  text  on,  574,  576. 

Universal  Charity  personified  and  com¬ 
mended,  iii.  225. 

Universal  Education,  the  only  practicable 
theory  of,  i.  500. 

Universal  Heading  not  good  for  the  mind, 
i.  281. 

Universal  Salvation  a  false  and  fatal  doc¬ 
trine,  ii.  491. 

Universal  Warfare,  its  effect  on  human 
improvement,  iii.  238. 

University,  personal  objections  to,  consi¬ 
dered,  i.  375;  the  poor  man’s  friend, 
396 ;  what  is  designated  by  the  term, 
399 ;  its  beau-ideal  nowhere  yet  realized, 
400;  state  or  national,  as  a  means  of 
instruction,  407  ;  adds  to  the  prosperity 
of  a  city,  428  ;  collects  a  literary  society, 
430;  general  benefits  arising  from,  433; 
first  planted  in  the  Garden  of  Eden, 
434  ;  the  friend  of  common  schools,  448  ; 
central  sun  of  all  school  systems,  504; 
its  history  traced  through  past  ages, 
505  ;  of  Geneva,  outline  of  its  course  of 
study,  i.  413-415  ;  of  Georgia,  described, 
217  ;  of  Oxford,  indebted  to  the  wisdom 
of  King  Alfred,  85;  of  Nashville,  pur¬ 
pose  of  its  founders,  218;  its  choice  po¬ 
sition,  219  ;  its  cause  eloquently  pleaded, 
153-158  ;  its  services  to  Tennessee,  364; 
its  highest  eulogium,  365;  its  freedom 
from  sectarian  influence,  366;  its  hopes 
for  the  future,  368  ;  speech  in  behalf  of, 
375;  its  history  and  prospects,  535,  536 ; 
its  bereavements,  593;  its  superior  ad¬ 
vantages,  605 ;  a  new  plan  proposed 
for,  iii.  50,  51 ;  its  successes,  52 ;  its 
high  claims  vindicated,  637  ;  its  admi¬ 
rable  location  and  apparatus,  605  ;  of 
New  York,  professorships  in,  i.  419, 
420  ;  of  Pennsylvania,  its  obligations  to 
Franklin,  i.  141  ;  of  Virginia,  amount 
expended  on,  135;  Jefferson’s  efforts  in 
behalf  of,  142  ;  its  professors  and  sys¬ 
tem  of  instruction,  418,  419. 

University  Education,  views  of,  in  Ten¬ 
nessee,  i.  20-23;  vindication  of,  for  the 
people,  25,  26 ;  its  history  in  ancient 
and  modern  times,  343 ;  its  abuses  and 


INDEX. 


729 


perversions,  397,*  obligations  of  the 
world  to,  433  ;  ancient  and  modern,  434, 
435 ;  influences  felt,  even  where  no  uni¬ 
versities  exist,  436  ;  beneficial  effects  on 
nations,  451-453;  agency  in  the  Ameri¬ 
can  Revolution,  454;  demands  legisla¬ 
tive  aid,  506 ;  system  of,  in  Continental 
Europe,  401 ;  advantages  of,  to  the  poor, 
394;  extensive  effects  of,  436. 

Universities,  needed  to  sustain  primary 
schools,  i.  38,  39  ;  none  in  the  world  yet 
complete,  406 ;  of  Europe  mostly  located 
in  large  cities,  239,  258;  of  Scotland 
and  New  England,  79  ;  of  the  Nether¬ 
lands,  242  ;  of  Germany  and  the  Conti¬ 
nent,  243,  402  ;  do  not  prevent  surround¬ 
ing  ignorance,  iii.  134 ;  of  the  Nile  and 
Euphrates,  their  graduates,  134. 

Unpopular  Minister  in  the  British  Parlia¬ 
ment,  why  he  must  resign,  iii.  328. 

Upstart  Nobility,  their  impositions,  iii. 

266,  267. 

Urgent  Calls  to  repentance,  ii.  626. 

Use,  of  conscience  in  man,  ii.  664 ;  of  wine 
as  a  beverage,  iii.  59. 

Usher,  Archbishop,  on  early  population, 
iii.  117. 

Usurpations  of  the  President  of  the  United 
States,  iii.  341. 

Usury  Laws  vexatious  and  nugatory,  iii. 
357. 

Utilitarian  Vieics,  of  education,  i.  226 ; 
of  dogmatists,  483. 

Utility,  of  all  knowledge  contended  for,  ii. 
240 ;  of  colleges,  i.  346. 

V 

Valedictory  of  Washington  a  priceless 
legacy  to  his  country,  iii.  230. 

Validity,  of  baptism,  as  held  by  Presby¬ 
terians,  ii.  340  ;  of  orders  and  ordinances 
in  churches,  iii.  454. 

Van  Buren,  Martin,  President,  quoted, 
iii.  275,  283. 

Vanini,  the  atheist,  his  tribute  to  Chris¬ 
tianity,  iii.  472. 

Van  Rensselaer,  Dr.  Cortlandt,  his  ad¬ 
dress  at  Dr.  Lindsley’s  funeral,  iii.  76. 

Vantage-Ground,  American,  over  the  Eng¬ 
lish,  iii.  231. 

Varieties  of  man,  not  caused  by  climate 
or  food,  iii.  175;  not  traceable  to  any 
historic  origin,  175. 

Variety  of  the  human  family,  none  new 
within  the  historic  period,  iii.  174. 

Vast  Patronage  of  the  President  of  the 
United  States,  iii.  348. 

Vattel,  and  other  writers  on  political 
economy,  ii.  418. 

Vegetation ,  mysterious  as  the  resurrection 
of  the  dead,  ii.  671 ;  used  by  Paul  for 
illustration,  673. 


Vendor  of  ardent  spirits,  how  enriched, 
iii.  525;  cannot  ask  God’s  blessing  on 
his  work,  539. 

Veteran  Lawyers,  their  opinion  of  the  law, 

i.  297. 

Veto  Power,  the  Presidential,  not  often  re¬ 
sorted  to,  iii.  343  ;  ought  to  be  abolished, 
344;  a  royal  prerogative  borrowed  from 
England,  347 ;  exercised  by  President 
Tyler,  369  ;  of  farmers  and  mechanics, 
346 ;  the  Roman,  did  no  good,  346. 
Vicarious  Substitution  a  doctrine  of  Scrip¬ 
ture,  ii.  689. 

Vice,  the  characteristic  of  the  present 
age,  i.  114;  shortens  life,  ii.  163;  its 
mastery  over  the  young,  171 ;  powerful 
tendency  to,  285 ;  of  drunkenness,  de¬ 
nounced  in  Scripture,  iii.  531. 

Victims  of  intemperance,  iii.  520. 

Victory  of  the  Christian  over  sin,  ii.  682. 
Vindication,  of  the  clergy  as  a  useful  pro¬ 
fession,  ii.  62,  63 ;  good  work  and  aims 
of,  64;  of  the  temperance  cause,  iii.  505; 
of  university  education,  i.  25. 

Vieivs  on  denominational  schools  and  col¬ 
leges,  i.  256. 

Vine- Culture  in  our  country,  suggestions 
on,  iii.  530. 

Violations,  of  law,  not  allowable  in  Chris¬ 
tians,  ii.  321 ;  of  the  Federal  Constitu¬ 
tion,  iii.  340. 

Virgil,  quotations  from,  i.  71,  ii.  240. 
Virginia,  colleges  of,  i.  216;  schools  of, 
480  ;  religious  destitution  in,  formerly, 

ii.  714. 

Virtue,  import  of,  ii.  131 ;  as  understood 
by  those  who  substitute  it  for  religion, 
134;  in  what  true,  consists,  i.  175;  with 
intelligence,  our  national  bulwark,  345  ; 
on  what  it  depends,  271. 

Visionary  Schemes,  of  education  for  the 
people,  i.  499 ;  of  reformation  depicted, 

iii.  483. 

Vitality,  animal  and  vegetable,  a  mystery, 

ii.  672. 

Vocation  of  the  teacher,  its  importance,  i. 

102. 

Volney,  and  others  of  the  infidel  school, 
i.  447. 

Voltaire,  a  warning  to  young  men,  ii. 
152  ;  a  lover  of  worldly  pleasure,  ii.  263 ; 
referred  to,  iii.  496. 

Voluntary  Association,  power  and  aims  of, 

iii.  528,  541. 

Voluntary  System  of  education  advocated, 
i.  515. 

Volunteer  Militia,  expense  of,  iii.  598. 
Voluptuary  exhorted  to  reformation,  ii. 

175. 

Voting,  for  what  kind  of  men,  iii.  283. 
Vulgar  Prejudices,  all  men  influenced  by, 
iii.  191;  when  good  and  salutary,  192. 
Vulgarisms  in  spelling  instanced,  iii.  639. 


730 


INDEX. 


W 

Wake,  Archbishop,  his  liberal  opinions 
cited,  iii.  411,  412. 

Waldenses  referred  to,  iii.  430. 

Want,  of  charity  often  exhibited  in  the 
pulpit,  i.  321 ;  of  union  among  early 
Protestant  sects,  iii.  462. 

War,  not  the  true  policy  of  America,  i. 
354 ;  contrary  to  the  spirit  of  Christian¬ 
ity,  ii.  323,  324;  will  cease  only  as  Bible 
principles  prevail,  iii.  491 ;  of  our  Revo¬ 
lution  just  and  necessary,  246. 

Waiiburton,  Bishop,  on  the  civilization 
of  ancient  Egypt,  iii.  137 ;  a  system- 
builder,  142. 

Warnings,  solemn,  to  the  impenitent,  ii. 
410,  623;  of  Washington  against  sec¬ 
tional  divisions,  iii.  256,  258. 

Washington,  George,  his  example  as  a 
farmer,  i.  124 ;  his  liberal  efforts  for 
education,  142 ;  his  views  of  colleges, 
238;  his  Farewell  Address  quoted,  579  ; 
referred  to,  with  Roger  Williams,  ii.  418  ; 
celebration  of  his  centennial  birthday, 
iii.  229  ;  effect  of  the  tidings  of  his  death 
described,  234;  raised  up  by  the  Al-  \ 
mighty  for  a  great  occasion,  249;  his 
place  filled  by  no  other  man,  250  ;  his  ex¬ 
traordinary  moderation  and  clemency, 
251 ;  a  framer  and  the  first  administrator 
of  our  form  of  government,  252;  his 
last  cautions  against  sectionalism,  256 ; 
remedy  for  this  evil,  257 ;  belonged  not 
to  America,  but  the  world,  258 ;  his  life 
a  study  for  all  classes,  259;  industry 
and  independence  of,  260 ;  secret  of  his 
exaltation,  261 ;  perfection  of  his  cha¬ 
racter,  258  -260  ;  called  by  Byron  Cin- 
cinnatus  of  the  West,  262  ;  great  simply 
as  a  man,  262  ;  incidents  in  his  life,  61 ; 
why  elected  President,  276 ;  head  of  his 
cabinet,  327;  his  financial  policy,  334; 
his  policy  the  true  American  one,  346. 

Water  changed  into  wine,  the  first  miracle, 
ii.  670,  671. 

Watt  and  Fulton,  inventors,  ii.  417. 

Way  of  salvation  pointed  out,  ii.  720. 

Wealth,  universal  passion  for,  condemned, 
i.  459  ;  not  the  criterion  of  happiness,  ii. 
223 ;  how  created  and  perpetuated  in 
nations,  iii.  387  ;  acquisition  of,  not  con¬ 
demned  in  the  Bible,  589. 

Wealthy  Classes,  few  literary  men  among, 
i.  394. 

Weather,  an  article  on,  iii.  626. 

Webster,  Daniel,  his  Union  sentiments 
adopted,  i.  356. 

Webster,  Noah,  his  orthography  and 
orthoepy,  iii.  642. 

Wellington,  Lord,  referred  to,  ii.  679. 

Wentworth,  and  other  bad  examples,  i. 
335. 

Werner  and  IIauy  referred  to,  ii.  418. 


Wesley,  John,  his  liberality  of  opinion, 
iii.  207. 

Wesseling,  quoted  on  the  knowledge  of 
America,  iii.  171. 

West  Indies,  the  ruins  of  an  ancient  con¬ 
tinent,  iii.  159. 

Western  Colleges,  number  and  standing  of, 

i.  212. 

Western  Institutions,  an  evil  in,  i.  388; 
theological,  note  respecting,  ii.  27. 

Western  States,  their  destitution  of  the 
Bible,  iii.  466. 

Westminster  Assembly,  its  constituent  mem¬ 
bers,  iii.  431,  432. 

Wiiately,  Archbishop,  on  the  Trinity, 

ii.  675  ;  logic  of,  referred  to,  676 ;  opi¬ 
nion  of  apostolic  succession,  iii.  410 ;  a 
low-church  Episcopalian,  446. 

Wheat  and  Tares  found  in  the  apostolic 
church,  iii.  405. 

Whig  and  Democrat,  popular  meaning  of 
the  terms,  iii.  275;  the  right  kind  of, 
315  ;  their  claims,  331. 

Whigs  of  the  Revolution,  their  character, 

i.  212. 

Whisky,  not  needed  bjr  soldiers  in  camp 
or  battle,  iii.  527;  its  bondage  broken 
by  temperance  reform,  528 ;  the  trade 
in,  compared  to  the  slave-trade,  523;  a 
dead  loss  of  capital,  524 ;  demagogues 
who  treat  in,  495. 

Whistle,  article  on,  iii.  602. 

White,  Bishop,  his  modesty,  iii.  419. 

Wiiitefield,  George,  a  model  mission¬ 
ary,  ii.  73 ;  an  example  of  decision  of 
character,  254. 

Wiiitgift,  Archbishop,  his  views  on 
church  government,  iii.  414 ;  a  fierce 
persecutor,  415. 

Whitney  and  the  cotton-gin,  ii.  418;  in¬ 
stance  of  a  self-made  man,  i.  341. 

Who  best  entitled  to  God’s  blessings,  ii. 
193. 

Wholesale  Abuse  of  Presbyterian  clergy¬ 
men,  instance  of,  ii.  355. 

Wicked  Men ,  cannot  reject  a  divine  pro¬ 
vidence,  ii.  462  ;  honest  at  the  approach 
of  death,  463;  eternal  punishment  of, 
492. 

Wickliffe,  John,  and  other  victims  of 
priestly  tyranny,  i.  284  ;  referred  to,  with 
other  Reformers,  ii.  46  ;  a  great  light  of 
the  university  in  his  day,  i.  444. 

Widows,  should  have  precedence  in  claims, 

iii.  321 ;  and  orphans  made  by  intempe¬ 
rance,  520,  580. 

Wilberforce,  and  other  philanthropists, 

ii.  135. 

Wild  Man  compared  with  wild  animals,  i. 
128. 

Wilkes,  John,  referred  to,  i.  266  ;  his  re¬ 
mark  on  hanging  a  man,  iii.  556. 

Will,  of  God,  no  appeal  from,  ii.  104 ;  free¬ 
dom  of,  in  man,  675. 

William  and  Mary,  the  College  of,  i.  216. 


INDEX.  731 


Williams,  Roger,  iii.  293. 

Wilmot  Proviso  and  Missouri  Compro¬ 
mise  unconstitutional,  iii.  571. 

Wine,  as  a  beverage,  iii.  529;  bearing  on 
temperance  reform,  530 ;  temperate  use 
of,  not  prohibited  in  Scripture,  531 ;  not 
to  be  used  when  it  gives  offence,  532. 

Wines,  light,  of  Southern  Europe,  a  sub¬ 
stitute  for  whisky,  iii.  530  ;  manufacture 
of,  suggested  for  our  country,  530  ;  of 
traffic,  much  adulterated,  530. 

Wisdom,  its  great  life-lessons,  ii.  186 ;  de¬ 
fined,  187 ;  the  scheme  of  life  required 
by,  159  ;  benefits  to  be  derived  from, 
200 ;  of  the  ancient  Egyptians,  import 
of,  iii.  148. 

Wisest  Men  of  antiquity  destitute  of  true 
spiritual  light,  ii.  420. 

Witherspoon,  Dr.  John,  referred  to,  ii.  47. 

Wolsey,  Cardinal,  embodied  in  many  a 
popular  saint,  iii.  497. 

Wolsteniiolme,  Sir  John,  referred  to, 
iii.  43S. 

Woman,  a  slave  in  nations  without  the 
Bible,  iii.  468  ;  only  by  the  gospel  raised 
to  the  proper  rank,  469,  490 ;  must  ever 
feel  for  her  suffering  sex,  471 ;  her 
wrongs  and  injuries  under  existing  hu¬ 
man  laws,  490;  loss  of,  by  the  United 
States  Bank,  547. 

Word  of  God  always  appeals  to  reason, 
ii.  667. 

Words  and  Phrases  in  the  mouth  of  de¬ 
vout  people,  ii.  675,  6S2. 

Work  of  redemption,  a  systematic  one,  ii. 
644;  of  Glod  in  nature  gives  no  indica¬ 
tion  of  redemption,  638 ;  of  a  gospel 
minister,  its  nature  and  extent,  656. 

Working  Men,  privileges  and  duties  of, 

i.  302;  their  interests,  iii.  270. 

World,  condition  of,  without  a  Sabbath, 

ii.  108  ;  large  portion  of,  yet  to  be  Chris¬ 
tianized,  80  ;  an  ample  field  for  all  the 
efforts  of  good  men,  i.  179;  supposed  to 
be  growing  wiser,  ii.  415;  compared  to 
ancient  Sodom,  473 ;  with  sin  in  it,  a 
great  mystery,  674;  present,  estimated 
by  eternity,  707 ;  has  produced  but  one 
Washington,  iii.  261;  population  of  the 
antediluvian,  100;  governed  too  much, 
354;  a  paradise  if  all  men  lived  by  the 
Bible,  483  ;  its  abounding  wretchedness 
and  woe,  489. 

Worship,  Christian  and  Jewish,  con¬ 
trasted,  iii.  401;  of  different  churches, 
attendance  on,  454;  of  the  New  Testa¬ 
ment,  ii.  339. 

Worst  Heresy,  uncharitableness,  i.  323. 

Would-be  Popes,  their  sectarianism  repu¬ 
diated,  i.  366. 

Writers,  on  longevity,  what  they  recom¬ 
mend,  ii.  169;  of  Scripture,  worthy  of 
credit  as  historians,  669. 

Writing,  not  unknown  to  the  antedilu¬ 
vians,  iii.  101.  „ 


Writings  of  Dr.  Lindsley,  manuscript  and 
published,  i.  32,  33. 

Written  Creeds,  necessity  for,  ii.  341. 

Wyttenbach,  and  others,  referred  to,  i.  390. 

Y 

Yale  College,  its  rank,  i.  87;  early  trials 
of,  210  ;  influence  in  the  Revolutionary 
War,  211;  choir  of  professors  and  tu¬ 
tors,  416,  417. 

Yankee  Character,  specimen  of,  i.  508, 
510 ;  great  shrewdness  of,  iii.  651. 

Yates,  Robert,  his  notes  on  the  National 
Convention,  iii.  317. 

Year,  lessons  from  the  close  of,  ii.  207. 

Yoke  of  whisky  despotism,  how  broken, 
iii.  528. 

Young,  Dr.  Edward,  his  Night  Thoughts 
quoted,  ii.  233. 

Young  Men,  diligence  in  study  urged  up¬ 
on,  i.  162-166 ;  exposed  to  vices  in  col¬ 
lege,  ii.  165  ;  not  fit  to  be  intrusted  with 
legislation,  iii.  284. 

Young  Minds,  responsibility  of  instruct¬ 
ing,  i.  117 ;  to  be  trained  on  Bible  prin¬ 
ciples,  iii.  484. 

Young  Preachers,  their  tendency  to  choose 
difficult  themes,  ii.  357. 

Youth,  must  be  constantly  employed  in 
education,  i.  45  ;  effeminate  character  of 
college-bred,  91 ;  American,  their  imper¬ 
fect  discipline  in  schools,  115;  of  the 
poor,  must  depend  on  home  colleges, 
145  ;  in  college,  whence  their  bad  habits, 
259;  in  Eastern  colleges,  temptations 
of,  260;  the  proper  government  of,  369  ; 
in  cities,  how  ruined,  3S2 ;  advice  to, 
544;  to  be  trained  for  teachers,  449; 
reasoned  with  to  embrace  religion,  ii. 
20,  21;  favoured  season  for  good  impres¬ 
sions,  137,  13S;  solemn  appeal  to,  140- 
143;  their  sacred  responsibilities,  145, 
146;  temptations  of,  146;  strong  tend¬ 
ency  to  folly,  167;  their  contempt  of 
study,  178 ;  warnings  to,  291 ;  time  to 
gain  useful  knowledge,  239 ;  urged  to 
acquire  every  species  of  useful  know¬ 
ledge,  241 ;  most  gifted,  fall  victims  to 
intemperance,  iii.  520 ;  their  progress 
on  the  downward  road,  521;  exposed 
by  society  to  infamy,  536 ;  in  colleges, 
exposed  to  drunkenness,  521 ;  thousands 
saved  by  the  temperance  reformation, 
528. 


Zaccheus,  his  example  instructive,  ii.  320. 

Zeal,  of  party  sects,  about  schools  and 
colleges,  i.  254-257;  in  preaching,  not 
a  test  of  piety  or  charity,  ii.  362. 

Zoology  easily  studied  by  Noah's  family 
in  the  Ark,  iii.  104. 

Zoroaster,  his  system  powerless,  ii.  650. 

Zuinglius,  and  other  Reformers,  not  free 
from  a  persecuting  spirit,  ii.  315,  iii.  430. 


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